Craig Janney is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on September 26, 1967, in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up playing hockey in the area. Janney was a highly skilled center who was known for his playmaking ability and offensive prowess.
Janney began his hockey career playing for the Boston College Eagles in the NCAA. He was a standout player for the Eagles, leading the team in scoring in each of his three seasons there. In his final season, he was named a First-Team All-American and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the top player in college hockey.
After his college career, Janney was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1987-88 season and quickly established himself as one of the league's top young players. In his second season, he scored 20 goals and had 82 points, which was good enough to earn him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Janney played for the Bruins for four seasons before being traded to the St. Louis Blues in 1992. He had some of his best seasons with the Blues, including a 1992-93 campaign in which he had 24 goals and 82 assists for 106 points. He also helped lead the Blues to the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the team.
After his time with the Blues, Janney played for several other teams, including the San Jose Sharks, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, and New York Islanders. He continued to be a productive player throughout his career, finishing with 188 goals and 563 assists for 751 points in 760 career NHL games.
Janney also had success on the international stage, representing the United States in several international tournaments. He was a member of the U.S. team that won the silver medal at the 1991 Canada Cup and also played in the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
After retiring from hockey, Janney stayed involved in the sport as a coach and broadcaster. He has worked as an analyst for NBC Sports and has also coached at the youth and college levels.
Overall, Craig Janney was a highly skilled and productive player during his NHL career. He was known for his playmaking ability and offensive prowess, and he was a key contributor to several successful teams throughout his career.
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