Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 lbs.
Born: September 10, 1966 in Oshawa, Ontario
Drafted: Selected by the Calgary Flames in the second round (27th pick overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.
Acquired: Traded by the Calgary Flames to the Dallas Stars for Corey Millen and Jarome Iginla on Dec. 19,1995.
Personal: Outstanding lacrosse player ... Brother Gil was an on-ice official ... Cousin, Jeff Beukeboom, plays for the New York Rangers.
Led team in goals, points, power-play goals, game-winning goals, shots and shooting percentage. Missed eight games with sprained knee. Missed one game with sore knee.
Hands down, Nieuwendyk has the best hands in the NHL for tipping pucks in front of the net. This skill is priceless on power plays, and with Nieuwendyk missing the playoffs because of knee surgery, Dallas' power play plummeted. He has fantastic hand-eye coordination and not only gets his blade on the puck, he acts as if he knows where he's directing it. Nieuwendyk is aggressive, tough and aware around the net. He can finish or make a play down low. He has the good vision, poise and hand skills to make neat little passes through traffic. He's a better playmaker than finisher, but he never doubts that he will convert his chances. He has good anticipation and uses his long reach to break up passes. Those same hand skills serve Nieuwendyk well on draws and he's defensively sound. Once a 50-goal scorer, two recent knee surgeries have robbed him of the necessary quickness to produce that total again. He's become a better all-around player, though.
Nieuwendyk does not initiate, but he will take the punishment around the front of the net and stand his ground. He won't be intimidated, but he won't scare anyone else, either. He would like to carry more weight, but physical problems require him to stay on the lean side.
Nieuwendyk is probably the best thing to happen to Mike Modano. He is a class individual who leads by example and has overcome personal and physical crises in recent years.
Recurring injuries indicate an increasing fragility for the 32-year-old centre. It's unlikely he will stay healthy through a full season and 70 points is probably his top range.
