Greg de Vries is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on January 4, 1973, in Sundridge, Ontario, Canada. De Vries started his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the North Bay Centennials in 1989. He played for the Centennials for three seasons before being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.
De Vries made his NHL debut with the Oilers in the 1994-95 season. He played in 12 games for the team before being traded to the Nashville Predators in 1998. De Vries played for the Predators for four seasons and was a key player on their defense. He was known for his physical play and his ability to block shots.
In 2002, de Vries signed with the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent. He played for the Avalanche for two seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2004. De Vries played for the Rangers for one season before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005.
De Vries played for the Thrashers for three seasons before being traded back to the Predators in 2008. He played for the Predators for one season before retiring from professional hockey in 2009.
Throughout his career, de Vries was known for his defensive skills and his ability to play in all situations. He was a reliable player who could be counted on to play a solid game every night. De Vries was also known for his leadership skills and was often a captain or alternate captain on his teams.
De Vries played in a total of 834 NHL games over his career, scoring 59 goals and 173 assists for a total of 232 points. He also played in 73 playoff games, scoring four goals and 11 assists for a total of 15 points.
After retiring from professional hockey, de Vries became involved in coaching. He served as an assistant coach for the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, he was named the head coach of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires. He coached the Spitfires for two seasons before stepping down in 2015.
Overall, Greg de Vries had a successful career in professional hockey. He was a reliable and consistent player who was respected by his teammates and opponents alike. His leadership skills and defensive abilities made him a valuable asset to every team he played for.
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