Jean-Sebastien Giguere is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 16 seasons. He was born on May 16, 1977, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Giguere began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Halifax Mooseheads in 1994. He played for the Mooseheads for three seasons, during which he was named the QMJHL's best goaltender twice.
In 1995, Giguere was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the first round, 13th overall, in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Whalers in 1996 and played for the team until 1997 when they relocated to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Giguere played for the Hurricanes for two seasons before being traded to the Calgary Flames in 1999.
Giguere played for the Flames for two seasons before being traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2000. It was with the Mighty Ducks that Giguere had his most successful years in the NHL. He played for the team for nine seasons, during which he was named to the NHL All-Star Game twice and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs in 2003 when the Mighty Ducks reached the Stanley Cup Finals.
In 2009, Giguere was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2010. Giguere played for the Avalanche for three seasons before announcing his retirement from professional hockey in 2014.
Throughout his career, Giguere was known for his strong play in the playoffs. He ranks third all-time in NHL history in playoff save percentage and fourth all-time in playoff shutouts. Giguere was also known for his mental toughness and ability to bounce back from tough losses.
Off the ice, Giguere was known for his charitable work. He established the Jean-Sebastien Giguere Foundation in 2003, which raises money for children's hospitals and other charitable organizations. Giguere was also involved in the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer initiative and was named the NHL's "First Star" for the month of October 2013 for his work in raising awareness for the cause.
In conclusion, Jean-Sebastien Giguere had a successful career as a professional ice hockey goaltender in the NHL. He played for four different teams over 16 seasons and was known for his strong play in the playoffs and his charitable work off the ice.
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