Canadian ice hockey player
Ice hockey player
Anthony Craig Rivet
(
; born September 13, 1974) is a
Canadian
former professional
ice hockey
defenceman
who played 18 seasons in the
NHL
, including 12 with the
Montreal Canadiens
. He later played for the
San Jose Sharks
,
Buffalo Sabres
, and
Columbus Blue Jackets
before finishing his career with the
Elmira Jackals
of the
ECHL
.
Playing career
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]
Junior career
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Rivet was drafted by the
Montreal Canadiens
in the
1992 NHL Entry Draft
from the
Kingston Frontenacs
in the
Ontario Hockey League
. He was drafted in the third round, 68th overall. Upon being drafted, he recorded junior career highs in
1992?93
with 19 goals, 55 assists, and 74 points. He added 12 points in the playoffs as Kingston advanced to the semi-finals but were eliminated by the
Peterborough Petes
in five games.
Montreal Canadiens
[
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After spending his first few professional seasons with Montreal's
AHL
affiliate, the
Fredericton Canadiens
, Rivet earned a full-time roster spot with Montreal in
1997?98
and became an
alternate captain
to
Saku Koivu
during his time with the team.
[1]
After a 25-point season with a career-high 8 goals in
2001?02
, he re-signed with the Canadiens to a four-year, $12 million contract extension.
[1]
In
2005?06
, Rivet improved to 34 points, his best offensive output with the Canadiens.
San Jose Sharks
[
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With his contract set to expire at the end of the
2006?07 season
, Rivet was traded on February 25, 2007, to the
San Jose Sharks
with a fifth-round draft pick in
2008
for
Josh Gorges
and a first-round draft pick in
2007
.
[2]
This pick would later be used to draft former Canadien captain
Max Pacioretty
(currently playing for the
Washington Capitals
). Before becoming an
unrestricted free agent
in the off-season, he re-signed with the Sharks to a four-year,
US$
14 million contract, citing San Jose's fan base and competitiveness as major factors in staying with the club.
[3]
He reportedly chose that offer over San Jose's offer of $12 million over the same time span, but with a no-trade clause. In the first season of his new contract, he recorded a career-high 30 assists and 35 points, topping all team defencemen in scoring (
Brian Campbell
finished with more points overall during the season, but only scored 19 of his points with San Jose).
[4]
Buffalo Sabres
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On July 4, 2008, Rivet was traded to the
Buffalo Sabres
with a
2010
seventh round draft pick in exchange for two second round selections in the
2009
and 2010 drafts.
[5]
Before making his
2008?09
debut with the Sabres, he was named
team captain
on October 8, replacing
Jason Pominville
, the last to be named captain as part of the Sabres rotating captaincy the previous season.
[6]
At the end of the
2009-10 season
, it was revealed that Rivet's play in the previous two seasons had been hampered by a double labrum tear, for which he would have off-season surgery. Despite initial estimates of 4?6 months for recovery, which would have impinged on the start of the 2010-11 season, he was expected to return for training camp.
[7]
Despite this, the veteran defenseman announced that the 2010-11 season might be his last in the NHL.
[8]
Rivet was waived by Buffalo on February 23, 2011.
[9]
Portland Pirates
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After clearing waivers on February 24, 2011, Rivet was reassigned to the Sabres'
American Hockey League
farm team, the
Portland Pirates
.
[10]
[11]
Columbus Blue Jackets
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On February 26, 2011, Rivet was claimed on re-entry waivers by the
Columbus Blue Jackets
.
[12]
Elmira Jackals
[
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]
On October 10, 2011, Rivet signed a deal with the
Elmira Jackals
just 6 months after announcing his retirement. He later revealed the move was necessary to obtain his United States permanent residency.
[13]
Career statistics
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Regular season and playoffs
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International
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International play
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Rivet made one international appearance for
Team Canada
at the
2003 World Championships
in
Finland
. He recorded 1 assist in 9 games as Team Canada captured the gold medal against
Sweden
3-2 in the final.
Post-hockey career
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Rivet co-hosted "The Instigators" with
Andrew Peters
on
WGR
550 out of Buffalo and
MSG Western New York
.
[14]
After stepping down from the show in September 2021, Rivet is currently co-hosting the podcast "After The Whistle" reunited with Andrew Peters.
References
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External links
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