Phil Housley

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox ice hockey player

Phillip Francis Housley<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (born March 9, 1964) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously served as assistant coach for the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL from 2019 to 2022, and assistant coach of the New York Rangers from 2023 to 2025. Housley was the head coach of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres from 2017 until 2019.

Housley was drafted by the Sabres in the first round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft and had a long and illustrious career playing for the Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. As a player, Housley was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.

Housley is the third leading scorer amongst American-born players, with 1,232 points (338–894). He held the record for most points by an American-born NHL player until Mike Modano surpassed it on November 7, 2007. On January 21, 2000, Housley played in his 1,257th NHL game, the most ever at the time by an American, breaking the record held by Craig Ludwig. Housley went on to play in 1,495 NHL games. He held the record for games played by an American-born player for nearly seven years, until it was broken, on November 24, 2006, by Chris Chelios.

Early life

Housley was born on March 9, 1964, in Saint Paul, Minnesota<ref name="EP">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to parents Mary Lee and LeRoy.<ref name="Halverson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is the youngest of their three children.<ref name="Burnside">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While his father worked in the family business of construction, he also served as an assistant coach on Housley's squirt team.<ref name="x">Template:Cite news</ref>

Playing career

Amateur

Housley played centre throughout his youth hockey career before switching to defense in high school.<ref name="Halverson"/> As a 10-year-old Squirt-level player, he scored 108 goals in one season. He improved to 113 goals at the peewee level.<ref name="x"/> Upon attending South St. Paul Secondary, Housley was moved to defense by coach Doug Woog.<ref name="Halverson"/> He also played quarterback for the high school football team and left fielder on their baseball team.<ref name="Whicker">Template:Cite news</ref> As a defenseman, Housley helped South St. Paul reach back-to-back state tournaments,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while also playing junior hockey for the St. Paul Vulcans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Allen">Template:Cite news</ref> During his high school years, Housley gained the attention of Buffalo Sabres scout Rudy Migay and Sabres head coach Scotty Bowman.<ref name="Burnside"/> To ensure the Sabres drafted an elite defenseman, Bowman struck a deal with the Washington Capitals general manager to ensure the Sabres drafted either Scott Stevens or Housley in the 1982 NHL entry draft.<ref name="Allen"/>

At the age of 18, Housley became the only high school student selected to compete for Team USA at the 1982 Ice Hockey World Championships.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was originally only intended to fill in on the roster until NHL players were available, but was able to remain on the team through the entire tournament.<ref name="Orr">Template:Cite news</ref> During the World Championships, Housley played as a centreman instead of defense<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and scored one goal while Team USA failed to medal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also committed to play colleagiate hockey at the University of Minnesota (U of M),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with the additional goal of competing for Team USA at the 1984 Winter Olympics.<ref name="Orr"/>

As his family could not afford to attend the draft in Montreal, Housley made the trip alongside a local sportswriter.<ref name="Burnside"/> After the Capitals selected Stevens fifth overall, the Sabres drafted Housley.<ref name="Allen"/> He was the first American-born player and first high school player to be selected in the draft.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After rejecting the Sabres' original offer,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> his agent used his college eligibility as leverage during contract negotiations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He eventually signed a three-year $500,000 contract, which included a stipulation to pay for his education.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> While he was unable to play for U of M, Housley intended to take summer classes to earn his degree.<ref name="Orr"/>

Professional

Housley was named to the Buffalo Sabres' opening night roster for the 1982–83 season after attending their training camp.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Although ankle injuries marred his start,<ref name="hurt">Template:Cite news</ref> Housley finished the season setting a Sabres rookie record with 47 assists.<ref name="LaBarber">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Based on his play during training camp and through exhibition games, media pundits began comparing him to Bobby Orr.<ref name="belongs">Template:Cite news</ref> While he had never suffered injuries in hockey before, his ankles began bothering him as the season began.<ref name="hurt"/> He nearly sat out of the Sabres' season opener against the Quebec Nordiques on October 6 due to an ankle injury, but chose to compete.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He recorded his first NHL point, an assist on Ric Seiling's goal, in his debut that night.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite missing three games in October due to sore ankles, Housley recorded two goals and eight assists through his first seven games.<ref name="Orr"/> Four of those points were collected in a single period on October 17 against the Edmonton Oilers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although he started the season playing alongside Mike Ramsey, by November he was more often skating with fellow rookie Hannu Virta.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, in an effort to improve his confidence, Housley was switched from defense to centreman between Sean McKenna and Gilles Hamel in mid-November. In their first game together, Housley scored two goals and McKenna tallied three assists.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He played three games as a centerman before returning to defense.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By the start of December, Housley had three goals and ranked second on the team with 15 assists.<ref name="belongs"/> Housley was again moved to center after Bowman sent Dave Andreychuk back to juniors in mid-December. In his first game with Gil Perreault and Mike Foligno, they combined for three goals in a 5-4 win over the Quebec Nordiques.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Through 18 games at the end of December and start of January, Housley scored five goals and 13 assists.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On January 23, 1984, Housley scored his first career NHL hat-trick to lead the Sabres to a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. All three of his goals were scored on the Sabres' power play and brought his total goals to 11.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By mid-February, Housley ranked fourth among all rookies in scoring with 49 points and first among all 1982 draft picks.<ref name="Whicker"/> On March 27, 1983, Housley set a franchise record for most goals scored by a Sabres defenseman in a single season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After tallying two assists a few games later, Housley became the third-highest scoring rookie defenseman in NHL history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On March 18, 1984, Housley became the youngest defencemen in NHL history to score 30 goals in a single season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Coaching career

From 2004 to 2013, Housley coached high school hockey at Stillwater Area High School in Stillwater, Minnesota, helping to rebuild the program to respectability.<ref name=tbn_sabreshire>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 2013 to 2017, Housley was an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators, working primarily with defensemen.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On January 5, 2013, Housley coached Team USA to the gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World U20 Championship in Ufa, Russia. He had served as an assistant coach on Team USA's 2007 and 2011 appearances in the World Juniors.<ref name=tbn_sabreshire/>

On June 15, 2017, it was announced that Housley was hired by the Buffalo Sabres as their new head coach.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He led the Sabres to a 31st-place finish in his first season and saw the Sabres attain a 10-game winning streak early in his second season before the team collapsed down the stretch. Housley was fired by the Sabres after the 2018–19 season on April 7, 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On June 26, 2019, it was announced that Housley signed a multi-year contract as assistant coach for the Arizona Coyotes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For the Coyotes, Housley served as defensive coordinator and power play coach.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

With his contract set to expire, Housley and the Coyotes agreed to part ways on May 1, 2022. He joined the New York Rangers as an associate coach in June 2023. The Rangers dismissed Housley in April 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Legacy

Housley was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 9, 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On February 7, 2007, he was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame, commemorated in a pre-game ceremony with former head coach Scotty Bowman on hand.

Personal life

Housley grew up in South St. Paul, Minnesota. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Karin Housley, a Minnesota state senator.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Housleys have four children and reside in St. Marys Point, Minnesota as of 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career playing statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1980–81 South St. Paul HS-MN 18 28 26 54 — — — — — —
1980–81 St. Paul Vulcans USHL 6 7 7 14 6 10 5 5 10 0
1981–82 South Saint Paul HS-MN 22 31 34 65 18 — — — — —
1982–83 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 19 47 66 39 10 3 4 7 2
1983–84 Buffalo Sabres NHL 75 31 46 77 33 3 0 0 0 6
1984–85 Buffalo Sabres NHL 73 16 53 69 28 5 3 2 5 2
1985–86 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 15 47 62 54 — — — — —
1986–87 Buffalo Sabres NHL 78 21 46 67 57 — — — — —
1987–88 Buffalo Sabres NHL 74 29 37 66 96 6 2 4 6 6
1988–89 Buffalo Sabres NHL 72 26 44 70 47 5 1 3 4 2
1989–90 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 21 60 81 32 6 1 4 5 4
1990–91 Winnipeg Jets NHL 78 23 53 76 24 — — — — —
1991–92 Winnipeg Jets NHL 74 23 63 86 92 7 1 4 5 0
1992–93 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 18 79 97 52 6 0 7 7 2
1993–94 St. Louis Blues NHL 26 7 15 22 12 4 2 1 3 4
1994–95 Zürcher SC NDA 10 6 8 14 34 — — — — —
1994–95 Calgary Flames NHL 43 8 35 43 18 7 0 9 9 0
1995–96 Calgary Flames NHL 59 16 36 52 22 — — — — —
1995–96 New Jersey Devils NHL 22 1 15 16 8 — — — — —
1996–97 Washington Capitals NHL 77 11 29 40 24 — — — — —
1997–98 Washington Capitals NHL 64 6 25 31 24 18 0 4 4 4
1998–99 Calgary Flames NHL 79 11 43 54 52 — — — — —
1999–2000 Calgary Flames NHL 78 11 44 55 24 — — — — —
2000–01 Calgary Flames NHL 69 4 30 34 24 — — — — —
2001–02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 80 15 24 39 34 5 0 1 1 4
2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 57 6 23 29 24 — — — — —
2002–03 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 1,495 338 894 1,232 822 85 13 43 56 36

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1982 United States WJC 7 1 0 1 6
1982 United States WC 7 1 0 1 4
1984 United States CC 6 0 2 2 0
1986 United States WC 10 2 6 8 4
1987 United States CC 5 0 2 2 4
1989 United States WC 7 3 4 7 2
1996 United States WCH 1 0 1 1 0
2000 United States WC 7 2 3 5 0
2001 United States WC 9 0 1 1 4
2002 United States OLY 6 1 4 5 0
2003 United States WC 6 1 1 2 4
Junior totals 7 1 0 1 6
Senior totals 64 10 24 34 22

Head coaching record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L OTL Pts Finish Result
BUF 2017–18 82 25 45 12 62 8th in Atlantic Missed playoffs
BUF 2018–19 82 33 39 10 76 6th in Atlantic Missed playoffs
Total 164 58 84 22 138

Awards and achievements

  • Member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame (2004)
  • NHL All-Rookie Team (1983)
  • NHL Second All-Star Team (1992)
  • Played in NHL All-Star Game (1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000)
  • Second runner-up Norris Trophy (1992)
  • Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (2015)

International play

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See also

References

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