Dave Andreychuk

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Andreychuk's most defining moment came in the 2003–04 season, when he captained the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup championship, defeating the Calgary Flames in seven games. He recorded 14 points in the 2004 playoffs. Andreychuk went 22 years without being on a Stanley Cup championship team, tying the NHL record with Ray Bourque for the longest career before doing so; only Bourque had played more career games before winning his first Cup. After the 2004–05 lockout, Andreychuk returned for the 2005–06 season, but his contributions decreased and he was waived by the Lightning on January 10, 2006, ending his career. He retired as one of only four players with 600 goals and 1,600 games played in NHL history.

In Their Own Story

Prior to the start of the 2001–02 season, Andreychuk was considering retirement. But Rick Dudley, GM of the Lightning and a former coach of Andreychuk, thought he could provide a key veteran presence to a team that had recently seen John Tortorella strip Vincent Lecavalier of the captaincy. Andreychuk laid down a few rules for the team to tighten them up, ranging from not dumping jerseys on the floor to implementing a $5 fine for anyone who laid a foot over the team logo on the floor, with proceeds going to charity. The team missed the playoffs that season, but Andreychuk refused trades to contenders, stating his work with the team was not finished. In the 2002–03 season, Tortorella appointed Andreychuk captain—the first time he had been captain of a team—and he promptly led the Lightning to the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

Reader's Guide

Andreychuk played for the Lightning from the 2001–02 season through the 2005–06 season. He was named captain in 2002–03 and led the team to the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. In the 2003–04 season, he reached 20 goals for the third consecutive year with the team. He recorded 14 points in the 2004 playoffs as the Lightning won the Stanley Cup Final. After the 2004–05 lockout, he returned for the 2005–06 season but was waived on January 10, 2006, ending his career. He retired as one of only four players with 600 goals and 1,600 games played in NHL history. On February 4, 2011, the Lightning named him Vice President in charge of fans; he currently serves as the Lightning's Vice President of Corporate & Community Affairs. In 2014, the Lightning revealed a statue outside Amalie Arena depicting him lifting the Stanley Cup after winning it in 2004. He was inducted into the Tampa Bay Lightning Hall of Fame as part of its second class in 2024.

Did You Know?

• Andreychuk was named captain of the Lightning in the 2002–03 season, the first time he had been captain of any team.
• He went 22 years without being on a Stanley Cup championship team, tying the NHL record with Ray Bourque for the longest career before doing so.
• Only Ray Bourque had played more career games than Andreychuk before winning his first Stanley Cup.
• Andreychuk refused trades to contenders during the 2001–02 season, stating his work with the team was not finished.
• In 2014, the Lightning revealed a statue outside Amalie Arena depicting Andreychuk lifting the Stanley Cup.