John Anderson is a former professional ice hockey player and coach who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and other leagues. Anderson was born on February 21, 1957, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and began playing hockey at a young age. He played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboros and was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1977.
Anderson made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in the 1977-78 season and played for the team for eight seasons. He was known for his speed and scoring ability, and he scored 30 or more goals in four seasons with the Maple Leafs. Anderson was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1985 and played for the team for one season before being traded to the Hartford Whalers.
Anderson played for the Whalers for four seasons and was named team captain in 1989. He then played for the Los Angeles Kings for one season before finishing his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1994. Anderson played a total of 814 NHL games and scored 282 goals and 349 assists for 631 points.
After retiring as a player, Anderson began his coaching career. He started as an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks in 1994 and then became the head coach of the AHL's Manitoba Moose in 1995. Anderson led the Moose to the Calder Cup Finals in 2000 and was named the AHL Coach of the Year in 2002.
Anderson then became the head coach of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers in 2008. He coached the team for two seasons and led them to their first playoff appearance in franchise history in 2009. Anderson was then fired by the Thrashers in 2010 and became the head coach of the AHL's Chicago Wolves.
Anderson coached the Wolves for five seasons and led them to the Calder Cup Finals in 2014. He then became the head coach of the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads in 2016 and coached the team for two seasons before retiring from coaching in 2018.
Overall, John Anderson had a successful career as both a player and coach in the NHL and other leagues. He was known for his speed and scoring ability as a player and for his coaching success in the AHL and OHL. Anderson's contributions to the sport of hockey have made him a respected figure in the hockey community.
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