Stu Barnes is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 16 seasons. He was born on December 25, 1970, in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. Barnes began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Tri-City Americans in 1987. He played for the Americans for three seasons, scoring 111 goals and 157 assists in 192 games.
In 1989, Barnes was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, fourth overall, in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Jets in the 1991-92 season, playing in 76 games and scoring 22 goals and 27 assists. Barnes played for the Jets for three seasons before being traded to the Florida Panthers in 1993.
Barnes played for the Panthers for two seasons, helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their third year of existence in 1996. He was then traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1996, where he played for four seasons. Barnes was a key player for the Penguins, helping them reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1996 and 2001.
In 2001, Barnes was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, where he played for four seasons. He was named team captain in 2003 and helped lead the Sabres to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2006. Barnes was then traded to the Dallas Stars in 2003, where he played for two seasons before retiring in 2008.
Throughout his NHL career, Barnes played in 1,136 games, scoring 261 goals and 336 assists for a total of 597 points. He was known for his versatility, playing both center and wing positions, as well as his leadership skills. Barnes was a respected player among his peers and was known for his work ethic and dedication to the game.
After retiring from playing, Barnes became a coach, serving as an assistant coach for the Dallas Stars from 2008 to 2011. He then became an assistant coach for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL from 2011 to 2012 before being named head coach of the team in 2012. Barnes led the Winterhawks to the WHL Finals in his first season as head coach.
In 2014, Barnes was named an assistant coach for the NHL's Dallas Stars, where he served until 2019. He then became an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres in 2019, where he currently serves.
Overall, Stu Barnes had a successful hockey career, playing for several NHL teams and earning the respect of his peers. He continues to contribute to the game as a coach and mentor to young players.
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