Todd Gill

Todd Gill
Born	(1965-11-09) November 9, 1965 Brockville, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs San Jose Sharks St. Louis Blues Detroit Red Wings Phoenix Coyotes Colorado Avalanche Chicago Blackhawks
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	25th overall, 1984 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	1985–2004

Todd Gill (born November 9, 1965) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL between 1985 and 2003. He played the majority of his career for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and has also played for the San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, and Chicago Blackhawks. Gill was born in Brockville, Ontario, but grew up in Cardinal, Ontario.

Playing career

Windsor Spitfires

Gill began his junior hockey career with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL in the 1982–83 season, as he scored 12 goals and 36 points in 70 games as a rookie. In three playoff games, Gill was held off the scoresheet.

He returned to the Spitfires for the 1983–84 season, as Gill scored nine goals and 57 points in 68 games to lead all Windsor defensemen. Gill also tallied a team high 184 penalty minutes. In three playoff games, Gill had a goal and two points. After the season, he was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round, 25th overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.

Gill came back to Windsor for the 1984-85, as in 53 games with the Compuware Spitfires, Gill scored 17 goals and 57 points to lead the defense in scoring, and was fourth in overall team scoring. In four playoff games, Gill earned an assist.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Gill appeared in 10 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1984–85 season, as he scored a goal and had 13 penalty minutes.

Gill spent most of the 1985–86 season with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the St. Catharines Saints, and in 58 games, he scored eight goals and 33 points. Gill also spent 15 games with the Maple Leafs during the 1985-86 season, scoring a goal and three points. Gill appeared in a playoff game for Toronto, going pointless as the Leafs lost to the St. Louis Blues in the Norris Division final. Gill also played in 10 playoff games in St. Catharines, scoring a goal and seven points.

He spent very little time with the Leafs newly relocated AHL team, the Newmarket Saints in the 1986-87 season, as Gill played in 11 games, scoring a goal and nine points for the Saints. In 61 games with Toronto during the 1986-87 season, he scored four goals and 31 points, which led Maple Leafs defensemen in points. In 13 playoff games, Gill had two goals and four points, as the Leafs lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the Norris Division final.

Gill only played two games with the Saints in the 1987–88 season, earning no points, as he spent the majority of time with the Maple Leafs during the season. Gill appeared in 65 games with Toronto, scoring eight goals and 25 points, while registering 131 penalty minutes, the second highest total on the team. In six playoff games, Gill had a goal and four points as the Maple Leafs lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs.

Injuries limited Gill to 59 games during the 1988–89 season, however, he scored 11 goals and 25 points, as the Leafs failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Gill suffered through another injury plagued season during the 1989–90 season, as he appeared in only 48 games, scoring a goal and 15 points, his lowest totals since becoming a regular NHL player. Gill had a solid showing in the playoffs, earning three assists in five games, as the Leafs lost to the St. Louis Blues in the first round.

He played in 72 games during the 1990–91, scoring two goals and 24 points, as the Leafs failed to qualify for the playoffs.

In 1991-92, Gill managed to stay healthy again, appearing in 74 games, scoring two goals and 17 points, however, the rebuilding Leafs missed the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

Gill had a very solid 1992–93, as he tied his career high with 11 goals and set a career high with 43 points in 69 games to lead the Leafs defense in scoring, and was fourth overall in team scoring, helping the team qualify for the playoffs. In 21 playoff games, Gill had a goal and 11 points, as the Leafs lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the Campbell Conference finals.

Gill suffered through a tough 1993–94, as he played in only 45 games, scoring four goals and 28 points. In 18 games in the playoffs, Gill chipped in with a goal and six points, as Toronto made the Western Conference finals, where they lost to the Vancouver Canucks.

He rebounded during the 1994–95, as in the lockout shortened season, Gill scored seven goals and 32 points in 47 games to lead the Leafs defense and finished in fifth in overall team scoring. In seven playoff games, Gill had three assists as Toronto lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round.

Gill saw his offensive numbers struggle during the 1995–96 season, scoring seven goals and 25 points in 74 games, his lowest point total since the 1991-92 season. In six playoff games, Gill was held pointless. On June 14, 1996, the Maple Leafs traded Gill to the San Jose Sharks for Jamie Baker and the Sharks fifth round draft pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Post-Toronto

Gill appeared in 79 games with the San Jose Sharks in the 1996–97. He recorded 21 assists but no goals—the first season in which he didn't score a goal. The Sharks failed to make the playoffs.

He began the 1997–98 season with San Jose and scored eight goals and notched 21 points. With the Sharks out of the playoff hunt, the team traded Gill to the St. Louis Blues for Joe Murphy on March 24, 1998. Gill finished the 1997-98 season with St. Louis. In 11 games with the Blues, he had five goals and nine points, which gave him a combined total of 13 goals, a career high, and 30 points, his highest points total since 1994-95. In the playoffs, Gill had two goals and four points in 10 games, but the Blues lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the second round.

He started the 1998–99 season in St. Louis, and during 28 games, Gill had two goals and five points. The Blues put Gill on waivers, and on December 30, 1998, he was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings. He finished the year with the Red Wings, as in 23 games, Gill had two goals and four points. He appeared in two playoff games with the Red Wings, getting no points, as Detroit lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the second round.

He became a free agent, and on July 21, 1999, Gill signed with the Phoenix Coyotes. He appeared in 41 games with the Coyotes in the 1999–2000 season, scoring a goal and seven points. His stay with Phoenix was short, as on March 13, 2000, the Coyotes traded Gill back to the Detroit Red Wings for Philippe Audet. He finished off the year with the Wings, scoring two goals in 13 games. In the playoffs, Gill had an assist in nine games as the Wings lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the second round.

He returned to Detroit for the 2000–01 season, as Gill had three goals and 11 points in 68 games. In the playoffs, Gill had no points in five games, as Detroit lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. He became a free agent at the conclusion of the season, and on July 24, 2001, Gill signed with the Colorado Avalanche. He appeared in 36 games with the Avalanche during the 2001-02 season, earning four assists in limited ice time with the team. The Avalanche released him on February 12, 2002.

Gill signed with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL for the 2002–03 season, as in 15 games he had a goal and six points. On March 5, 2003, Gill left the Falcons, as he signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played in five games with the Blackhawks in the 2002–03 season, earning an assist. He also appeared in nine games with the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, recording three assists in those games. Gill then appeared in nine playoff games with Norfolk, scoring two goals and seven points.

He became a free agent after the season, and on August 20, 2003, he signed a contract with the Florida Panthers. Gill did not appear in any regular season games with the Florida Panthers, as he was cut by the team during the pre-season. He became a free agent, and signed with Lausitzer Füchse in Germany. Gill finished his playing career with Lausitzer Füchse of the 2nd Bundesliga in Germany. In 25 games, Gill had six goals and 25 points. Gill had a goal and two points in four playoff games.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Coaching career

Gill coached the Brockville Braves of the CJHL for five seasons, as the team posted a record of 198-81-22 under Gill. In 2010-11, he guided the Braves to the Eastern Canadian championship, and a berth in the 2010 Royal Bank Cup.

Gill became the head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League in 2011. In his first season with the club in 2011-12, Gill led the rebuilding club to a 19-41-8 record, earning 46 points, as Kingston failed to qualify for the post-season.

The Frontenacs improved to a 27-35-6 record in 2012-13, earning 60 points, and seventh place in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the Frontenacs were swept by the Barrie Colts in the first round.

Gill led the Frontenacs to their first winning record under his coaching tenure in 2013-14, as Kingston had a 39-23-3-3 record, earning 84 points, and third place in the Eastern Conference. The Frontenacs faced the Peterborough Petes in the opening round of the playoffs, and took a 3-0 series lead, however, the club then lost their next four games to be knocked out of the post-season. On May 5, 2014, the Frontenacs announced that Gill would not be returning as head coach as his contract was not extended.

Coaching record

See also

• Captain (ice hockey)
• List of NHL players with 1000 games played

References

External links

• Todd Gill's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database