View source for Phil Esposito

{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player, executive (b. 1942)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Phil Esposito<br />{{post-nominals|Canada|OC}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1942|2|20}}
| birth_place = [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]], Canada
| image = Philip Esposito, February 2012 (cropped).jpeg
| image_size=230px
| caption = Esposito in 2012
| position = [[Centre (ice hockey)|Centre]]
| played_for = [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]]<br />[[Boston Bruins]]<br />[[New York Rangers]]
| shoots = Left
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 205
| ntl_team = CAN
| career_start = 1963
| career_end = 1981
| halloffame = 1984
}}
<!-- *** DO NOT CHANGE THE SPELLING OF "BLACK HAWKS" IN THIS ARTICLE *** "BLACK HAWKS" IS HOW THE NICKNAME OF THE CHICAGO TEAM WAS SPELLED BEFORE 1986. -->
'''Philip Anthony Esposito''' {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|OC]]}} ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɛ|s|p|ə|ˈ|z|iː|t|oʊ}} {{respell|ESP|ə|ZEE|toh}},<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/en/definition/Esposito,+Phil |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826192111/https://www.dictionary.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2022-08-26 |title=Esposito, Phil |dictionary=[[Lexico]] US English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPA|it|eˈspɔːzito|lang}}; born February 20, 1942) is a Canadian former professional [[ice hockey]] player, coach and executive, and current broadcaster for the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]].  A member of the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]], he played 18 seasons in the [[National Hockey League]] for the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]], [[Boston Bruins]], and [[New York Rangers]], winning two [[Stanley Cup]]s with Boston.

He is considered one of the greatest players of all time, and is the older brother of the late fellow Hall-of-Famer goaltender [[Tony Esposito]]. He became the first player to score more than 100 points in a season, with 126 in [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69]], a feat he would later achieve a further five times, also becoming the first player to score 50 goals in a season five times in a row, including the then record of 76 goals in [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71]] to go with the then record 152 points the same year. Altogether, he won the [[Art Ross Trophy]] as the leading point scorer five times, led the league in goals six times, was voted the [[Hart Trophy]] for MVP twice, and was named as a [[NHL All-Star team|first team All-Star]] centre six times.

After retiring as a player, Esposito served as head coach and general manager for the Rangers for two seasons. In 1991, he and his younger brother co-founded the Tampa Bay Lightning, the first NHL team in [[Florida]]. The elder Esposito served as the franchise's first president and general manager until 1998; he now serves as Tampa Bay's radio colour commentator.

Esposito was named one of the '[[100 Greatest NHL Players]]' in history in 2017, and the ninth-best player of all time by ''[[The Athletic]]'' in 2023.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=100 Greatest NHL Players|url=https://www.nhl.com/fans/nhl-centennial/100-greatest-nhl-players|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 27, 2017|date=January 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NHL99: Phil Esposito's boldness followed him from the ice to NHL front offices |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4061679/2023/01/27/nhl99-phil-esposito/ |author=Eric Duhatschek}}</ref> His #7 jersey was [[List of National Hockey League retired numbers|retired]] by the Bruins on December 3, 1987, and there is a [[Phil Esposito Statue|statue]] in his likeness at Tampa Bay's [[Benchmark International Arena]].

==Playing career==

===Minor league===
Esposito signed with the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] as a teenager and was assigned to the Sarnia Legionnaires Jr. 'B' hockey team for the 1960–61 season. In just 32 games with the Legionnaires, he scored 47 goals and 61 assists, for 108 points - a scoring pace of 3.3 points per game. He scored 12 points in one playoff game as the Legionnaires advanced to the Western Ontario final before being eliminated.
After a sparkling junior season with the [[St. Catharines Teepees]] of the [[Ontario Hockey Association]] in [[1961–62 OHA season|1962]], Esposito spent two seasons with Chicago's minor league affiliate, the [[St. Louis Braves]], scoring 90 points in his first season and 80 points in only 46 games in his second. He was then named to the OHA-Jr. Second All-Star Team. 

===Chicago Black Hawks (1963-1967)===
Midway through the [[1963–64 NHL season|1964 season]], Esposito was called up to the parent Black Hawks to make his NHL debut. Centreing for the great [[Bobby Hull]] beginning in [[1964–65 NHL season|the 1965 season]], he proved himself a quality playmaker, twice finishing amongst the League-leading scorers over the next three seasons. 

Esposito scored his first NHL goal on January 25, 1964 versus the Detroit Red Wings.

===Boston Bruins (1967-1975)===
[[File:Phil Esposito action shot.jpg|thumb|Esposito with the [[Boston Bruins]] in 1969.]]
In [[1967–68 NHL season|1967]], Esposito was dealt with [[Ken Hodge]] and [[Fred Stanfield]] to the [[Boston Bruins]] in a blockbuster trade. While Hodge and Stanfield rose to become stars in Boston, Esposito blossomed into the greatest scorer of his day. In [[1968–69 NHL season|1969]], he became the first NHL player to score 100 points in a season, far eclipsing the "century" mark with a record 126. He fell a single point shy in 1970, then reached triple digits again the next five years running.  Along the way, he captured the [[Art Ross Trophy]] as the top regular-season scorer in 1969 and 1971 to 1974, and led the League in goals six straight seasons between 1969–70 and 1974–75.

A 6-foot-1, 215-pound, strong man who seldom hid his emotions, Esposito was nearly unstoppable when he maneuvered in the slot. He'd find or fight for some free ice against the frustrated defenders trying to stop him, and figure out a way to get the puck on his stick. As soon as it was there, he sent it goalward.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phil Esposito Stats and News {{!}} NHL.com |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/phil-esposito-8446722 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}</ref> One of his best attributes was his shot during his time with the Bruins he benefitted from his point-blank positioning especially on the power play. Being a big player for his day, and even as he withstood a flogging from penalty-killing stick swingers, he would still get his shots in. with, 249 going in, which made him one of the greatest power-play scorers in league history.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=ESPN.com: NHL - Esposito on record: 'I had no clue' |url=https://a.espncdn.com/nhl/columns/parent_rob/1453650.html |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=a.espncdn.com}}</ref> Esposito play style has led to him being described as hockey's version of [[Willie Sutton]], the prolific American bank robber. Asked why he robbed banks, Sutton said, "Because that's where the money is." As for Esposito he parked his hulking frame in front of the opponent's net because that's where his goals were scored.<ref name=":2" />

Esposito play improved greatly when he joined the Bruins, scoring 84 points during the [[1967–68 NHL season]], when he was also named to the [[NHL All-Star team|NHL second All-Star team]] for the first time. During the [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69 season]] season Esposito had a breakout year and became the first player in NHL history to have a 100 point season, with 49 goals and 77 assists, and played in his first [[22nd National Hockey League All-Star Game|all star game]] and was named to the NHL first All-Star team for the first time as well. He also won both the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] and the [[Art Ross Trophy]] for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=100-Point Seasons - Milestones {{!}} NHL Records |url=https://records.nhl.com/records/milestones/100-point-season |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=records.nhl.com}}</ref> Esposito's historic 100th point came against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 2, 1969 when he scored 2 goals in a 4-0 Bruins victory.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.nhl.com/video/memories-esposito-s-100th-point-6342897604112 |title=Memories: Esposito's 100th point {{!}} NHL.com |date=2017-06-08 |language=en |access-date=2025-08-11 |via=www.nhl.com}}</ref>

Esposito was named to the NHL's first All-Star team six consecutive times (from 1969 to 1974), and won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1969 and 1974. His Boston fans, celebrating his scoring touch during his heyday, displayed bumper stickers that read, "Jesus saves, Espo scores on the rebound." Esposito, while not a fast or graceful skater, was best known for his unmovable presence in front of the opposition net from which he could score from all angles. Esposito has said, "Scoring is easy. You simply stand in the slot, take your beating and shoot the puck into the net."<ref>McDonell, Chris. ''Hockey's Greatest Stars'', page 15.</ref>  He also possessed a combination of skating and stickhandling ability, strength, and long reach that enabled him to "rag the puck," holding onto it for long periods of time in the face of opponents' checks and thus enabling his team to kill off penalties.

During his prime, Esposito centred one of the most renowned forward lines in history, featuring Ken Hodge on his right wing and [[Wayne Cashman]] on his left. Esposito continued to put up sensational numbers along side fellow superstar [[Bobby Orr]]. During the [[1969–70 NHL season|1969–70 season]] he finished one point shy of back to back 100 point seasons with 99. During the subsequent postseason he helped lead the Bruins to their first Stanley cup in 29 years, as he finished with a career best 27 points (13 goals 14 assists) during the playoffs. 

During [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71]], Esposito shattered the record for most goals in a season, finishing with 76. The mark stood until [[1981–82 NHL season|1982]], when [[Wayne Gretzky]] scored his 77th, 78th and 79th goals against the [[Buffalo Sabres]] on February 24, 1982, at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Esposito was on hand to present the game puck to Gretzky. Esposito also set the single-season point-scoring record in 1971 with 152, a mark later raised by Gretzky to 215. Only four others have reached the 150 point plateau — [[Mario Lemieux]] (four times), [[Steve Yzerman]], [[Bernie Nicholls]] and [[Connor McDavid]] — and only Gretzky, Lemieux, [[Brett Hull]], [[Teemu Selänne]] and [[Alexander Mogilny]] have matched or bettered Esposito's 76 goals in a season. The 1970 season also saw Esposito shatter the single-season mark for shots on goal, tallying 550. Only one other player has come within 100 shots of this record, [[Alexander Ovechkin]] in 2008–09, in a season that was four games longer than when it was set. With Esposito scoring 152 points, his fellow teammates also put up incredible numbers: Bobby Orr (with 139), [[Johnny Bucyk]] (116) and Ken Hodge (105). The group finished 1–2–3–4 in league scoring, the first time in NHL history the season's top four scorers all played for one team. At the end of the year he was awarded the [[Lester B. Pearson Award]] for the first time and his second Art Ross trophy. 

The next year during the [[1971–72 NHL season|1971–72 season]] Esposito and Bobby Orr became the first players to have back to back 100+ point seasons. Once again Esposito put up great numbers during the postseason as he and the Bruins beat the New York Rangers in the [[1972 Stanley Cup Final]], winning their second Stanley cup in a three year period. Esposito once again was awarded the Art Ross trophy at the end of the season.  

In Esposito's last three full seasons with the Bruins he continued to be a star player, achieving a 100+ point season every year. Scoring 55 goals and 130 points in [[1972–73 NHL season|1972–73]], he won his fourth Art Ross trophy in the process. In [[1973–74 NHL season|1973–74]] Esposito scored 66 goals and 145 points, Orr scored 122, Hodge had 105 and Cashman totaled 89 points, and all finished 1–2–3–4 in league scoring for the only other time in NHL history the season's top four scorers all played for one team. At the end of the year Esposito was awarded his second Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award, along with his fifth Art Ross trophy.

Esposito scored his 1000th career point on February 15, 1974 vs the Detroit red wings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hockey News Archive |url=https://archive.thehockeynews.com/issue/596182/16 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=archive.thehockeynews.com}}</ref>

As of May 2024, Esposito ranked second in all-time regular-season goals for Boston with 459 (behind only Johnny Bucyk's 545).  As of 2024, Esposito was fourth behind [[Brad Marchand]], [[Cam Neely]] and [[Patrice Bergeron]] in all-time Bruins playoff goals with 46. Esposito holds the Boston record for most playoff hat-tricks with four, one of which was a four-goal game versus Toronto in 1969.  Often used to kill penalties, Esposito scored 20 shorthanded goals for Boston over his career. His last full season with Boston was [[1975–76 NHL season|1975–76]], in which he scored 61 goals and 127 points. During his time with Boston Esposito played in the All-Star Game seven straight years from [[1969 NHL All-Star Game|1969]]-[[1975 NHL All-Star Game|1975]], was selected as a first team all star six straight years from [[1968–69 NHL season|1969]]-[[1973–74 NHL season|1974]] and was named to the NHL second all star team twice in [[1968–69 NHL season|1969]] and [[1974–75 NHL season|1975]]. 

After his performance in the [[Summit Series]], in which he was the captain and inspirational leader for [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Team Canada]] and its leading scorer in the series, Esposito won the 1972 [[Lou Marsh Trophy]] as Canada's outstanding male athlete of the year and was made an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]]. He also scored the first goal of the series and he scored or assisted four times in the deciding game. During that series, his scolding of Canadian fans, who booed the national team after a 5–3 loss to the [[Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team|Soviet Union]] in Game Four, was credited with firing up his teammates:<ref>{{cite news| url=http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-41-318-1646/sports/summit_series/clip3 |title=Home fans boo, Espo lets them have it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040302040239/http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-41-318-1646/sports/summit_series/clip3 |archive-date=2 Mar 2004 | publisher=CBC News}}</ref>

<blockquote>"If the Russian fans boo their players in Moscow like you people are booing us, I'll come back and apologize personally to every one of you, but I really don't think that will happen. We gave it and are doing our best. All of us guys are really disheartened. . . We came out here because we love Canada. They're a good hockey team, and we don't know what we could do better, but I promise we will figure it out. But it's totally ridiculous – I don't think it is fair that we should be booed."<ref>McDonell, Chris. ''Hockey's Greatest Stars'', page 24.</ref></blockquote>

Esposito also played for Canada in the inaugural [[Canada Cup]] in 1976, on a line with Hall-of-Famers [[Bobby Hull]] and [[Marcel Dionne]]. The following year, he represented Canada once more in the [[1977 Ice Hockey World Championships]] in Vienna.

For his time with Team Canada and his overall career he was later inducted into the [[Canada's Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1989, and again in 2005 alongside all the other members of the 1972 Summit Series team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hall of Famers {{!}} Canada's Sports Hall of Fame {{!}} Home: Mobile |url=https://halloffamers.sportshall.ca/mobile.html#phil_esposito |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=halloffamers.sportshall.ca}}</ref>

===New York Rangers (1975-1981)===
In [[1975–76 NHL season|1975–76]], Esposito was traded because he did not want to relinquish his playing time, even with his age.<ref name="greatesthockeylegends1">{{cite web|last=Pelletier |first=Joe |url=http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2008/11/brad-park-hated-bruins-then-he-became.html |title=Brad Park Hated The Bruins, Then He Became One |publisher=Greatest Hockey Legends.com |date=2008-11-15 |access-date=2013-06-23}}</ref> He and [[Carol Vadnais]] were traded to the [[New York Rangers]] on November 7<ref name="nyr 1st">{{cite web |title=Esposito Gets 2 Goals, But Rangers Lose, 7-5 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/08/archives/esposito-gets-2-goals-but-rangers-lose-75-esposito-nets-pair-to-no.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=27 January 2019 |date=8 November 1975}}</ref> in exchange for [[Brad Park]], [[Joe Zanussi]] and [[Jean Ratelle]]. This trade was monumental, as Esposito was still a great scorer, but Ratelle was a skilled centre and Park was arguably the second best defenceman in the NHL, behind Bobby Orr.<ref name="greatesthockeylegends1"/>

Esposito was upset to be traded from Boston as he became thoroughly connected with Boston and its fan base. However one of his best singular performances would later come against the Bruins in a four-goal game on March 15, 1979.'''''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-11 |title=Centennial Stories: Seven to Seventy-Seven {{!}} Boston Bruins |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/centennial-stories-seven-to-seventy-seven |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}</ref>'''''

While not as strong an offensive force as in his glory days, as captain of the Rangers Esposito led the team in points each of his full seasons with the club and remained an effective scorer until his final season. The highlight of his years in New York was leading the Rangers to the [[1979 Stanley Cup Final]] where, at 37 years of age, he finished third in postseason scoring.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=HistoricalPlayerDetail&pkey=8451916 |title=New York Rangers - All Time Roster |website=rangers.nhl.com |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070808042627/http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=HistoricalPlayerDetail&pkey=8451916 |archive-date=8 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=tra_photomemory_1979 |title=NewYork Rangers - Photo Memory - New York Rangers - All Time Roster |website=rangers.nhl.com |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20101228035828/http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=tra_photomemory_1979 |archive-date=28 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 4, 1977, Esposito scored his 600th NHL goal, against the [[Vancouver Canucks]], becoming the first player to reach that milestone in a Rangers uniform. During his time with the Rangers he played in the All star game three times, in [[1977 NHL All-Star Game|1977]], [[1978 NHL All-Star Game|1978]], [[1980 NHL All-Star Game|1980]].

Esposito retired in 1981, behind only [[Gordie Howe]] in career goals and total points, and third in assists to Howe and [[Stan Mikita]].

==Post-playing career==
===New York Rangers===
Esposito served as general manager and head coach of the Rangers from 1986 to 1989, during which he earned the nickname "Trader Phil" for the numerous transactions he made.<ref name="NHL99">{{cite web |last1=Duhatschek |first1=Eric |title=NHL99: Phil Esposito's boldness followed him from the ice to NHL front offices |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4061679/2023/01/27/nhl99-phil-esposito/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=28 October 2023 |language=en |date=27 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Finn |first=Robin |date=1986-07-15 |title=ESPOSITO IS REPLACING PATRICK AS GENERAL MANAGER |language=en |work=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/15/sports/esposito-is-replacing-patrick-as-general-manager.html |access-date=2023-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Finn |first=Robin |date=1986-07-16 |title=Esposito Relishes Top Post|language=en |work=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/16/sports/esposito-relishes-top-post.html |access-date=2023-08-21}}</ref> During his tenure as GM, he made more trades than the Vancouver Canucks had made in the entire 1980s.<ref>Remembering Phil Esposito, Craig McInnis, Editor, {{ISBN|978-1-55192-639-1}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Tom |date=2021-01-18 |title=Rangers' Esposito Era: 5 Best and Worst Trades of 'Trader Phil' |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/rangers-phil-esposito-best-worst-trades/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=The Hockey Writers |language=en-us}}</ref> While serving as GM, two of his most famous moves were the trade for the legendary [[Marcel Dionne]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cart |first=Julie |author-link=Julie Cart |date=1987-03-11 |title=Dionne Asks for a Trade, Goes to Rangers |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-11-sp-9930-story.html |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and one in which he sent a first-round pick to the [[Quebec Nordiques]] as compensation for signing [[Michel Bergeron (hockey coach)|Michel Bergeron]] to be the Rangers' head coach.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald |date=1987-06-19 |title=Rangers Pull a Surprise: Bergeron Becomes Coach (Published 1987) |language=en |work=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/19/sports/rangers-pull-a-surprise-bergeron-becomes-coach.html |access-date=2023-08-21}}</ref>

===Tampa Bay Lightning===
====Founder and Manager====
When the NHL announced its expansion plans in the late 1980s, Phil Esposito, along with his brother Tony, and [[Mel Lowell]], sought to place a franchise in [[Tampa Bay]], Florida. They faced competition from the [[Compuware|Compuware Group]], which wanted to place a team in nearby [[St. Petersburg, Florida]]. It was proposed to Esposito that he merge his bid with the Compuware Group, which he refused.<ref>Thunder and Lightning: a No-B.S. Hockey Memoir, Phil Esposito and Peter Golenbock, {{ISBN|978-0-7710-3086-4}}.</ref> His reputation and force of personality was widely credited with winning the expansion bid for Tampa Bay on December 6, 1990. The [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] commenced play in the [[1992–93 NHL season]], with the elder Esposito as the team's first president and general manager.<ref>{{cite web |title=A franchise is born 25 years ago |url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/a-franchise-is-born-25-years-ago/c-791248 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 27, 2019 |date=December 6, 2015}}</ref>

For the Lightning's inaugural season, Esposito hired many of his former teammates from the Bruins, including Cashman as an assistant coach and former Bruins trainer John "Frosty" Forristal as trainer. He also made hockey history by signing [[Manon Rhéaume]], making her the first woman to sign with and play for an NHL team.

However, one of the Esposito group's key backers, the [[Pritzker family]], had backed out a few months before the bid, to be replaced by a Japanese consortium headed by Kokusai Green, a golf course and resort operator.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Power Plays: An Inside Look at the Big Business of the National Hockey League|last=Stein|first=Gil|year=1997|pages=86–92}}</ref> Though Kokusai Green had helped the Espositos secure the initial bid, the team languished under their ownership; financed almost entirely by loans, the Lightning were constantly short of cash, hampering Esposito's ability to function as GM.<ref name="Sandomir">{{Cite news|first=Richard |last=Sandomir |title=A Soap Opera on Ice |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/06/sports/hockey-a-soap-opera-on-ice.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 6, 1998|access-date=January 27, 2008 }}</ref> Kokusai Green's owner, Takashi Okubo, never met with the Espositos (or with any other NHL officials), and it was rumored that the consortium was a criminal front for the [[yakuza]].<ref name="HC">{{Cite book |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric |title=Hockey Chronicles |year=2001 |publisher=Checkmark Books |location=New York City |isbn=0-8160-4697-2 |display-authors=etal |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/hockeychronicles00tren }}</ref> The Lightning quickly fell to the bottom of the league and Esposito fired head coach [[Terry Crisp]] in [[1997–98 NHL season|1997]]. Even with interim coach [[Jacques Demers]], who had enjoyed successful tenures with the Red Wings and Canadiens, the Lightning lost 55 games for a franchise-worst .268 winning percentage.

Kokusai Green sold the Lightning to insurance tycoon [[Arthur L. Williams, Jr.|Art Williams]] in 1998. Shortly after taking control, Williams fired both Esposito brothers two games into the [[1998-99 NHL season|1998–99 season]].

Esposito now serves as vice president of corporate relations for the Lightning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Tampa Bay Lightning Website {{!}} Tampa Bay Lightning |url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/team/front-office |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Broadcaster====
After he retired with the Rangers in 1981, he joined [[MSG Network]]/[[WWOR-TV]] for the [[1981–82 NHL season|1981–82 season]] as a TV color commentator replacing [[Bill Chadwick]]. He called games alongside first with [[Jim Gordon (sportscaster)|Jim Gordon]] and later [[Sam Rosen (sportscaster)|Sam Rosen]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1983-09-20 |title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Comings and Goings |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/20/sports/sports-people-comings-and-goings.html |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=B14 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald |date=1985-03-12 |title=TV SPORTS; IT'S PRIME TIME FOR HOCKEY ANNOUNCERS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/12/sports/tv-sports-it-s-prime-time-for-hockey-announcers.html |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=B8 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1988, the pair called [[Wales Conference]] playoff games for [[NHL on ESPN|ESPN]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Chad |first=Norman |date=April 22, 1988 |title=ESPN, HOME TEAM SPORTS COOL ON ICE |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/04/22/espn-home-team-sports-cool-on-ice/f34eebf5-d1ee-4d8e-88b2-cbf907d10acb/ |accessdate=April 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-04-21 |title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Esposito's Blessings |language=en-US |page=B16 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/21/sports/sports-people-esposito-s-blessings.html |access-date=2023-10-10 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

After his firing, Esposito returned to the Lightning organization for the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]] as a radio colour commentator.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |title=Esposito's presence will be clearly felt |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1999/08/14/esposito-s-presence-will-be/50512680007/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=New Bedford Standard-Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He still calls home games on [[WHPT]] (and previously, on [[WFLA (AM)|WFLA]]), along with play-by-play commentator [[Dave Mishkin]], with [[Bobby Taylor (ice hockey)|Bobby Taylor]] replacing him for away games. Esposito also co-hosts a daily call-in show on [[SiriusXM]]'s ''[[SiriusXM NHL Network Radio]]'' channel. 

=== Bruins jersey retirement ===
On December 3, 1987 Esposito returned to the [[TD Garden|Boston Garden]] to watch his number 7 get retired to the rafters. However [[Ray Bourque]] at the time wore no. 7. Team president [[Harry Sinden]] told Esposito that Bourque would continue to wear the number, and that when Bourque retired his name would be placed to Esposito's, which Esposito supported. During the ceremony, however, Bourque skated over to Esposito to shake his hand and then took off his no. 7 jersey, revealing his newly minted 77 jersey, officially retiring Esposito's jersey with only his name going to the rafters.<ref name=":1" />

In 2005 Esposito returned to Boston and was honored by the sports museums tradition event at the [[TD Garden]] as a member of that year's class, and received the hockey legacy award. In 2016 Esposito returned to the event to present Wayne Cashman with the same award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-30 |title=Cashman Honored at Sports Museum's Annual Tradition {{!}} Boston Bruins |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/former-bruins-captain-wayne-cashman-honored-at-sports-museum-s-15th-an-284222166 |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Family/other ===
Esposito was married during his playing career to his first wife Linda, and they had three children together. He is now married to his second wife, Bridget, and the couple live in Tampa.<ref> {{Cite web |title=Opening his home to late daughter's 19-year-old son a mind-bending life change for Phil Esposito |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/opening-his-home-to-late-daughters-19-year-old-son-a-mind-bending-life/1249168/ |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} </ref>

Esposito's younger brother [[Tony Esposito|Tony]] is also an honoured member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Former NHL player [[Alexander Selivanov]] is Esposito's son-in-law.

After retirement, Esposito established the Phil Esposito Foundation, which he created to help promote the game of hockey and provide crisis financial assistance to former NHL players, many of whom were retired before the league established pension benefits.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito, who made a... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/10/04/Hockey-Hall-of-Famer-Phil-Esposito-who-made-a/5942465710400/ |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

Esposito also became an avid golfer, even competing in the 2002 World Golf League tournament, and in 2004 he became an official spokesman of the organization.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Inc |first=World Golf League |date=2004-03-17 |title=Hockey Great Phil Esposito Joins The World Golf League Team |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2004/03/17/307766/2873/en/Hockey-Great-Phil-Esposito-Joins-The-World-Golf-League-Team.html |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en-us}}</ref>

In 2003 Esposito released his autobiography, ''Thunder and Lightning''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phil Esposito |url=https://www.blueskyse.com/talent/phil-esposito |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=Blue Sky Sports & Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref>

Esposito performs charity work in Florida, participating in charity golf events and hockey games in order to raise money. In 2011 Esposito hosted  his own celebrity charity golf tournament to raise funds for the All Children's Hospital of St. Petersburg and surrounding communities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ESPO |first=The |title=NHL Hall-of-Famer Phil Esposito Hosts Celebrity Golf Invitational |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nhl-hall-of-famer-phil-esposito-hosts-celebrity-golf-invitational-119337329.html |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-29 |title=NHL legend Phil Esposito plays charity game at MAC |url=https://theeyeopener.com/2016/09/nhl-legend-phil-esposito-plays-charity-game-at-mac/ |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=The Eyeopener |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2017 he became a member of the Advisory Board for [[Kunlun Red Star]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phil Esposito Linkedin |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/philespo7}}</ref>

==Honours==
During his playing days in 1972 Esposito received the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] award, which is given out to high achievers in public service, business, science and exploration, sports, and the arts.<ref name=":4" /> That same year he was also awarded the [[Lou Marsh Trophy]] as the top Canadian athlete of the year.

In 1984 Esposito was given the Guinness Stout 'Big 'G' Award' for extraordinary accomplishments beyond the game of hockey. They held a special New York Hockey Night event, with all three New York area sports team present to celebrate Esposito. He was also inducted into the New York hockey Hall of Fame during the festivities.<ref name=":3" />

Esposito was elected to the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1984. On December 3, 1987, his No. 7 jersey was retired by the Boston Bruins in an emotional ceremony where the then-current wearer, superstar defenceman [[Ray Bourque]], pulled off his No. 7 jersey to reveal his new number, 77—dramatically "surrendering" his old number in Esposito's favour (coincidentally, Esposito wore 77 with the New York Rangers, because 7 was already being worn by [[Rod Gilbert]]). Esposito was "visibly moved" when Bourque showed the [[Boston Garden]] crowd his new number, which he used for the rest of his career.<ref>McDonell, Chris. ''Hockey's Greatest Stars'', page 104.</ref> Esposito was also on hand in Boston to hand Bourque his retired number after the latter retired. In 2017, Esposito was named one of the [[100 Greatest NHL Players]].<ref name=":0" /> In 2023 Esposito was named to the [[List of Boston Bruins award winners|Boston Bruins All-Centennial Team]].<ref name=":5" />

In 2007 along side his brother [[Tony Esposito|Tony]], Esposito received a star on the [[Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame]]. In 2009 Esposito was part of the first group of people to receive a star on the [[Italian Walk of Fame]] in Toronto.<ref name=":6" />

On December 31, 2011 the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] unveiled a statue in his honour in front of their home arena, the [[Tampa Bay Times Forum]]. He was also inducted as an inaugural member of the Lighting Hall of Fame in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-09 |title=Tampa Bay Lightning Hall of Fame Weekend |url=https://www.mymagic949.com/fp/tampa-bay-lightning-hall-fame-weekend/ |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=My Magic 94.9 |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and achievements==
* [[NHL All-Star team|NHL second All-Star team]] ([[1967–68 NHL season|1968]], [[1974–75 NHL season|1975]])
* Played in [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]] ([[1969 NHL All-Star Game|1969]], [[1970 NHL All-Star Game|1970]], [[1971 NHL All-Star Game|1971]], [[1972 NHL All-Star Game|1972]], [[1973 NHL All-Star Game|1973]], [[1974 NHL All-Star Game|1974]], [[1975 NHL All-Star Game|1975]], [[1977 NHL All-Star Game|1977]], [[1978 NHL All-Star Game|1978]], [[1980 NHL All-Star Game|1980]])
* [[Art Ross Trophy]] winner ([[1968–69 NHL season|1969]], [[1970–71 NHL season|1971]], [[1971–72 NHL season|1972]], [[1972–73 NHL season|1973]], [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]]) 
* [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] winner ([[1968–69 NHL season|1969]], [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]]) 
* [[NHL All-Star team|NHL first All-Star team]] ([[1968–69 NHL season|1969]], [[1969–70 NHL season|1970]], [[1970–71 NHL season|1971]], [[1971–72 NHL season|1972]], [[1972–73 NHL season|1973]], [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]])
* [[List of NHL goal scoring leaders by season|NHL goal scoring leader]] ([[1969–70 NHL season|1970]], [[1970–71 NHL season|1971]], [[1971–72 NHL season|1972]], [[1972–73 NHL season|1973]], [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]], [[1974–75 NHL season|1975]])
* [[Stanley Cup]] champion ([[1970 Stanley Cup Finals|1970]], [[1972 Stanley Cup Finals|1972]])
* [[Lester B. Pearson Award]] winner ([[1970–71 NHL season|1971]], [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]])
* Received Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] in 1972.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#sports |website=www.achievement.org |publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]}}</ref>
* Won [[Lou Marsh Trophy]] as Canadian athlete of the year in 1972.
* [[Lester Patrick Trophy]] winner ([[1977–78 NHL season|1978]])
* Inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 1984.
* Inducted into the New York Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida Sports Hall of Fame {{!}} Phil Esposito |url=https://flasportshof.org/fshofmember/phil-esposito/ |access-date=2025-08-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* His #'''7''' [[Jersey number|Jersey]] was retired by the [[Boston Bruins]] on December 3, 1987.
* Retired as the second leading all-time NHL goal and point scorer, and third in assists.
* Among the all-time NHL leaders in goals scored (7th), assists (21st), and total points (10th).
* [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69]] – First player in [[National Hockey League|NHL]] history to reach 100 points in a single season (finished with 126)
* First player in [[National Hockey League|NHL]] history to score 1,000 points in a decade (1970s).
* Holds the record for shots on goal in a single season with 550 in [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71]].
* Third all-time in game-winning goals with 118 (after [[Alexander Ovechkin]] and [[Jaromír Jágr]]).
* Had thirteen consecutive 30+ goal seasons, second most in [[National Hockey League|NHL]] history.
* In 1998, he was ranked number 18 on ''[[The Hockey News]]''' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
* Inducted into the [[Ontario Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phil Esposito |url=http://oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/33-phil-esposito |website=oshof.ca |publisher=[[Ontario Sports Hall of Fame]] |access-date=25 September 2014 |archive-date=28 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228125557/http://www.oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/33-phil-esposito |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Inducted into the [[Canada's Sports Hall of Fame|Canada Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2005
* Inducted in 2007 (alongside brother [[Tony Esposito|Tony]]) into the [[Sault Ste Marie Walk of Fame]].
* In the 2009 book ''100 Ranger Greats'', was ranked No. 23 all-time of the [[List of New York Rangers players|901 New York Rangers]] who had played during the team's first [[2008–09 New York Rangers season|82 seasons]]<ref>{{cite book|title=100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters |first1=Russ |last1=Cohen |first2=John |last2=Halligan |first3=Adam |last3=Raider |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |isbn= 978-0470736197 |date=2009 |page=166}}</ref>
* Received a star on the [[Italian Walk of Fame]] in [[Toronto]] in 2009.<ref name=":6">Connor, Kevin.[http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/09/08/10783341-sun.html "Walking proud in Little Italy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408090535/http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/09/08/10783341-sun.html |date=8 April 2016 }}</ref>
* Statue unveiled in his honour in front of the [[Tampa Bay Times Forum]] (now Benchmark International Arena) on December 31, 2011.
* Inducted into the [[Florida Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2016.
* In 2017, Esposito was named one of the '[[100 Greatest NHL Players]]' in history.<ref name=":0" />
* In 2023, Esposito was named as one of the inaugural members of the Tampa Bay Lightning Hall of Fame.
* [[List of Boston Bruins award winners|Named One of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-12 |title=Bruins Announce "Historic 100" Ahead of All-Centennial Team Reveal {{!}} Boston Bruins |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-announce-historic-100-ahead-of-all-centennial-team-reveal |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[List of Boston Bruins award winners|Boston Bruins All-Centennial Team]]<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-13 |title=Bruins Announce All-Centennial Team {{!}} Boston Bruins |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-announce-all-centennial-team |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===

* <small>'''Bold''' indicates led league</small>

{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" |[[Regular season]]
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" |[[Playoffs]]
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! [[Season (sports)|Season]]
! Team
! League
! GP !! [[Goal (ice hockey)|G]] !! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]] !! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]] !! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|-
| [[1961–62 OHA season|1961–62]]
| [[St. Catharines Teepees]]
| [[Ontario Hockey League|OHA]]
| 49 || 32 || 39 || 71 || 54
| 6 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 9
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1961–62 EPHL season|1961–62]]
| [[Sault Thunderbirds]]
| [[Eastern Professional Hockey League (1959–63)|EPHL]]
| 6 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 2
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[1962–63 EPHL season|1962–63]]
| [[St. Louis Braves]]
| EPHL
| 71 || 36 || 54 || 90 || 51
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1963–64 CHL season|1963–64]]
| St. Louis Braves
| [[Central Professional Hockey League|CPHL]]
| 43 || 26 || 54 || 80 || 65
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[1963–64 NHL season|1963–64]]
| [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]]
| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
| 27 || 3 || 2 || 5 || 2
| 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1964–65 NHL season|1964–65]]
| Chicago Black Hawks
| NHL
| 70 || 23 || 32 || 55 || 44
| 13 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 15
|-
| [[1965–66 NHL season|1965–66]]
| Chicago Black Hawks
| NHL
| 69 || 27 || 26 || 53 || 49
| 6 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1966–67 NHL season|1966–67]]
| Chicago Black Hawks
| NHL
| 69 || 21 || 40 || 61 || 40
| 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 7
|-
| [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68]]
| [[Boston Bruins]]
| NHL
| 74 || 35 || '''49''' || 84 || 21
| 4 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 0
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 74 || 49 || '''77''' || '''126''' || 79
| 10 || '''8''' || '''10''' || '''18''' || 8
|-
| [[1969–70 NHL season|1969–70]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 76 || '''43''' || 56 || 99 || 50
| 14 || '''13''' || '''14''' || '''27''' || 16
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 78 || '''76''' || 76 || '''152''' || 71
| 7 || 3 || 7 || 10 || 6
|-
| [[1971–72 NHL season|1971–72]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 76 || '''66''' || 67 || '''133''' || 76
| 15 || '''9''' || 15 || '''24''' || 24
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1972–73 NHL season|1972–73]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 78 || '''55''' || '''75''' || '''130''' || 87
| 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
| [[1973–74 NHL season|1973–74]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 78 || '''68''' || 77 || '''145''' || 58
| 16 || 9 || 5 || 14 || 25
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1974–75 NHL season|1974–75]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 79 || '''61''' || 66 || 127 || 62
| 3 || 4 || 1 || 5 || 0
|-
| [[1975–76 NHL season|1975–76]]
| Boston Bruins
| NHL
| 12 || 6 || 10 || 16 || 8
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1975–76
| [[New York Rangers]]
| NHL
| 62 || 29 || 38 || 67 || 28
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[1976–77 NHL season|1976–77]]
| New York Rangers
| NHL
| 80 || 34 || 46 || 80 || 52
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1977–78 NHL season|1977–78]]
| New York Rangers
| NHL
| 79 || 38 || 43 || 81 || 53
| 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 5
|-
| [[1978–79 NHL season|1978–79]]
| New York Rangers
| NHL
| 80 || 42 || 36 || 78 || 37
| 18 || 8 || 12 || 20 || 20
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]]
| New York Rangers
| NHL
| 80 || 34 || 44 || 78 || 73
| 9 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 8
|-
| [[1980–81 NHL season|1980–81]]
| New York Rangers
| NHL
| 41 || 7 || 13 || 20 || 20
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
! 1,282 !! 717 !! 873 !! 1,590 !! 910
! 130 !! 61 !! 76 !! 137 !! 138
|}

===International===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year
! Team
! Event
! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|-
| 1972
| [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]]
| [[Summit Series|SS]]
| 8 || 7 || 6 || 13 || 15
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1976 Canada Cup|1976]]
| Canada
| [[Canada Cup|C-Cup]]
| 7 || 4 || 3 || 7 || 0
|-
| [[1977 Ice Hockey World Championships|1977]]
| Canada
| [[Ice hockey world championships|WC]]
| 10 || 7 || 3 || 10 || 14
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"| Senior totals
! 25 !! 18 !! 12 !! 30 !! 29
|}

==Head coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="6"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
! G !! W !! L !! T !! Pts !! Finish !! W !! L !! Win% !! Result
|-
! [[New York Rangers|NYR]] !! [[1986–87 NHL season|1986–87]]
| 43 || 24 || 19 || 0 || (48) || 4th in [[Patrick Division|Patrick]] || 2 || 4 || {{winpct|2|4}} || Lost in Division Semifinals ([[Philadelphia Flyers|PHI]])
|-
! NYR !! [[1988–89 NHL season|1988–89]]
| 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || (0) || 3rd in Patrick || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|0|4}} || Lost in Division Semifinals ([[Pittsburgh Penguins|PIT]])
|-
! colspan="2"|Total !! 45 !! 24 !! 21 !! 0 !! &nbsp; !! &nbsp; !! 2 !! 8 !! {{winpct|2|8}} !! 2 playoff appearances
|}

==In popular culture==
Esposito and New York Rangers teammates [[Ron Duguay]], [[Dave Maloney]] and [[Anders Hedberg]] famously appeared in a TV commercial for Sasson [[designer jeans]] in 1979. In 1979, Esposito and Ranger teammates recorded a song written by [[Alan Thicke]] as a fundraiser for the [[Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation]] called "[[Hockey Sock Rock]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Sports|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/sports|publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia / The Encyclopedia of Music In Canada|access-date=4 January 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220161014/http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003292|archive-date=20 December 2010}}</ref>

Esposito makes an appearance in the 2015 animated Christmas special, ''[[The Curse of Clara: A Holiday Tale]]'', both as a young ballet dancer's imaginary mentor and as the actual person performing a cameo in ''[[The Nutcracker]]''. He voiced the role himself.<ref>[http://torontosun.com/2015/12/08/hockey-and-ballet-team-up-as-phil-esposito-lends-his-voice-to-the-curse-of-clara/wcm/1ac06558-a3b4-4226-bcf9-668d8ff707d6 "Hockey and ballet team up as Phil Esposito lends his voice to 'The Curse of Clara'"]. ''[[Toronto Sun]]'', December 8, 2015.</ref>

Esposito also appeared in a recurring role for several episodes as a fire chief in [[Denis Leary]]'s FX show ''[[Rescue Me (American TV series)|Rescue Me]].''

==See also==
* [[1972 Summit Series]]
* [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]
* [[List of Canadian sports personalities]]
* [[List of NHL players with 1,000 games played]]
* [[List of NHL players with 1,000 points]]
* [[List of NHL players with 500 goals]]
* [[List of NHL statistical leaders]]
* [[Notable families in the NHL]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Phil Esposito}}
{{commons category}}
* {{icehockeystats|legendsm=P198401}}
* [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=290255 Esposito learned to love the Big Apple]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=390870 The Trade]
* [http://www.conacher-rosenfeld.ca/les_gagnants-winners/conacher/phil_esposito-eng.html Phil Esposito, winner of the Lionel Conacher Award and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award: Virtual Museum of Canada Exhibit]

{{S-start}}
{{S-sports}}
{{succession box | before = [[Brad Park]] | title = [[List of New York Rangers captains|New York Rangers captain]] | years = [[1975–76 NHL season|1975]]–[[1977–78 NHL season|78]] | after = [[Dave Maloney]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Bobby Clarke]] | title = [[National Hockey League Players' Association|NHLPA President]] | years = [[1979–80 NHL season|1979]] – February 10, [[1980–81 NHL season|1981]] | after = [[Tony Esposito]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Michel Bergeron (hockey coach)|Michel Bergeron]]<br />[[Tom Webster (ice hockey)|Tom Webster]] | title = [[List of New York Rangers head coaches|Head coach of the New York Rangers]] | years = [[1988–89 NHL season|1989]]<br />[[1986–87 NHL season|1986–87]] | after = [[Roger Neilson]]<br />[[Michel Bergeron (hockey coach)|Michel Bergeron]] }}
{{succession box | before = Position created | title = [[List of Tampa Bay Lightning general managers|General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning]] | years = [[1992–93 NHL season|1992]]–[[1997–98 NHL season|98]] | after = [[Jacques Demers]] }}
{{succession box | before = [[Craig Patrick]] | title = [[General managers of the New York Rangers|General Manager of the New York Rangers]] | years = [[1986–87 NHL season|1986]]–[[1988–89 NHL season|89]] | after = [[Neil Smith (ice hockey)|Neil Smith]] }}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before = [[Bobby Hull]] | title = [[Richard Trophy|NHL Goal Leader]] | years = [[1969–70 NHL season|1970]], [[1970–71 NHL season|1971]], [[1971–72 NHL season|1972]], [[1972–73 NHL season|1973]], [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]], [[1974–75 NHL season|1975]] | after = [[Reggie Leach]]}}
{{succession box | before = new award<br />[[Bobby Clarke]] | title = [[Lester B. Pearson Award]] winner | years = [[1970–71 NHL season|1971]]<br />[[1973–74 NHL season|1974]] | after = [[Jean Ratelle]]<br />[[Bobby Orr]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Bobby Clarke]]<br />[[Stan Mikita]] | title = Winner of the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] | years = [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]]<br />[[1968–69 NHL season|1969]] | after = [[Bobby Clarke]]<br />[[Bobby Orr]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Stan Mikita]]<br />[[Bobby Orr]] | title = Winner of the [[Art Ross Trophy]] | years = [[1968–69 NHL season|1969]]<br />[[1970–71 NHL season|1971]], [[1971–72 NHL season|1972]], [[1972–73 NHL season|1973]], [[1973–74 NHL season|1974]] | after = [[Bobby Orr]]<br />[[Bobby Orr]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Lou Marsh Trophy}}
{{Lionel Conacher Award}}
{{NHL on CBS}}
{{NHL on ABC}}
{{ESPN National Hockey Night}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Esposito, Phil}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Art Ross Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Boston Bruins players]]
[[Category:Boston Bruins announcers]]
[[Category:Canadian ice hockey centres]]
[[Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches]]
[[Category:Canadian sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian radio sportscasters]]
[[Category:Chicago Blackhawks players]]
[[Category:Hart Memorial Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Lester B. Pearson Award winners]]
[[Category:Lester Patrick Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:Northern Star Award winners]]
[[Category:National Hockey League All-Stars]]
[[Category:National Hockey League players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:New York Rangers coaches]]
[[Category:New York Rangers executives]]
[[Category:New York Rangers general managers]]
[[Category:New York Rangers players]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Sault Thunderbirds players]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]]
[[Category:St. Catharines Teepees players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Braves players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Braves (EPHL) players]]
[[Category:Stanley Cup champions]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Lightning announcers]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Lightning executives]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen]]