Comcast
Spectacor
July 07, 2001
Flyers.com
FLYERS SIGN DEFENSEMAN DAN McGILLIS TO NEW THREE-YEAR CONTRACT
The Philadelphia
Flyers today announced that they have signed 6’2”, 225-pound
defenseman Dan McGillis to a new three-year contract, according to club
President and General Manager Bob Clarke. Per club policy, financial
terms were not disclosed.
“Dan is an
integral part of our defense and we are happy to have him signed for the
next three years,” said Clarke in making the announcement. “He is a
solid two-way defenseman that we feel is still improving.”
McGillis, 29,
recorded 14 goals and 35 assists for 49 points and 86 penalty minutes in
82 games this past season for the Flyers. He was awarded the Barry
Ashbee Trophy for the 2000-01 season as the team’s most outstanding
defenseman and shared the 2000-01 Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy, with
Simon Gagne, as the Flyer who has most improved from the previous
season, as voted by his teammates. He led the team in hits (292 - fourth
in the NHL), blocked shots (127) and shots (207). He tied for second on
the team in power play points with 22 (4G,18A). McGillis was first among
Flyers defensemen in points with 49 and was one of only three Flyers to
play in all 82 games this past season. In 2000-01, he has established
new career highs for goals and points in a season.
McGillis, in his
third full season with the Flyers, had one of the NHL’s largest point
increases from the 1999-2000 season to the 2000-01 season (with a
minimum of 60 games played). After posting 18 points in 1999-2000,
McGillis recorded 49 points this past season, an improvement of 31
points (ninth largest increase overall, best for a defenseman). He has
registered 27 goals and 91 assists for 118 points and 237 penalty
minutes in 241 games for the Flyers over parts for four seasons (1997-98
through 2000-01). He was acquired by the Flyers, along with a second
round pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft (Jason Beckett), from the
Edmonton Oilers, in exchange for Janne Niinimaa on March 24, 1998.
“I’m very
excited to re-sign with the Flyers,” said McGillis. “I’m looking
forward to the season. We have made some changes here and I think that
everyone is getting ready for the season. I’m very happy. I wanted to
stay in Philadelphia.”
In 381 career
regular season games over five NHL seasons with Edmonton and the Flyers
(1996-97 through 2000-01), McGillis has recorded 43 goals and 122
assists for 165 points and 363 penalty minutes. A native of Hawkesbury,
Ontario, McGillis was traded by the Detroit Red Wings to Edmonton in
exchange for Kirk Maltby on March 20, 1996. McGillis was originally
drafted by Detroit in the 10th round (238th overall) of the 1992 NHL
Entry Draft.
