Rick Paterson is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman. He was born on December 22, 1959, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Paterson started his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Victoria Cougars in the 1977-78 season. He played for the Cougars for two seasons before being drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.
Paterson made his NHL debut with the Nordiques in the 1980-81 season. He played for the Nordiques for four seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1984. Paterson played for the Penguins for two seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1986. He played for the Flyers for two seasons before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1988.
Paterson played for the Canucks for two seasons before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 1990. He played for the Sabres for two seasons before being traded to the New York Islanders in 1992. Paterson played for the Islanders for one season before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1993. He played for the Lightning for two seasons before retiring from professional hockey in 1995.
Throughout his career, Paterson was known for his physical play and defensive skills. He was a reliable defenseman who could be counted on to shut down opposing forwards. Paterson was also a good skater and had a hard shot from the point.
In total, Paterson played in 570 NHL games, scoring 27 goals and 98 assists for 125 points. He also played in 34 playoff games, scoring one goal and six assists for seven points. After retiring from professional hockey, Paterson became a coach. He coached in the minor leagues and was an assistant coach for the NHL's Nashville Predators from 1998 to 2002.
In conclusion, Rick Paterson had a successful career as a professional ice hockey player. He played for several NHL teams and was known for his physical play and defensive skills. After retiring from professional hockey, Paterson became a coach and continued to contribute to the sport.
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