Nelson Emerson is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on August 17, 1967, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and began his hockey career playing for the St. Catharines Falcons of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Emerson was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Blues for four seasons before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets in 1993. He played for the Jets for two seasons before being traded to the Hartford Whalers in 1995. Emerson played for the Whalers for one season before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1996. He played for the Blackhawks for one season before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 1997. Emerson played for the Senators for one season before being traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1998. He played for the Mighty Ducks for four seasons before retiring in 2002.
Throughout his career, Emerson was known for his speed and skill on the ice. He was a versatile player who could play both center and wing positions. He was also a strong penalty killer and was often used in defensive situations.
Emerson's best season came in 1995-96 when he scored 25 goals and 56 points for the Hartford Whalers. He also had a career-high 10 power-play goals that season. In total, Emerson played in 771 NHL games, scoring 139 goals and 284 assists for 423 points.
After retiring from playing, Emerson went on to become a coach. He served as an assistant coach for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from 2002 to 2004 before being named head coach of the ECHL's Peoria Rivermen in 2005. He also served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings from 2006 to 2008 before being named head coach of the AHL's Springfield Falcons in 2008. Emerson later served as an assistant coach for the Winnipeg Jets from 2011 to 2014 before being named director of player development for the Kings in 2014.
Overall, Nelson Emerson had a successful career in the NHL and has continued to make an impact in the hockey world as a coach and executive.
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