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Rich Peverley’s Career: A Trip Down Memory Lane

By Allison Scott |

Despite his best wishes and hope of a return to the NHL, Dallas Stars winger Rich Peverley announced his retirement today a little more than a year and a half after his collapse. Although his time as a player is over, Peverley has joined the Stars’ Player Development Program in which he will help young players in their journeys to the NHL.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see how he made it to the big leagues.

ECHL and AHL

As an undrafted player Peverley’s journey was less than typical. He played for the South Carolina Stingrays and the Reading Royals, both of the ECHL, from 2004-2006 while also playing one game of the Portland Pirates of the AHL. From there he went on to play for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL where he led the team and got the attention of its NHL affiliate, the Nashville Predators.

Nashville Predators

Peverley signed a deal with the Predators on January 17th, 2007 and ended up making his NHL debut before season’s end. The following year he split time between Nashville and Milwaukee, even appearing in the Predator’s Stanley Cup playoff games against the eventual champion Detroit Red Wings.

Atlanta Thrashers

The Ontario native split the following season again between the Predators and the Admirals before being put on and subsequently claimed off of waivers in January 2009. Peverley played a total of 180 games over the course of three seasons for the Thrashers, including his first full 82 game season in 2009-2010.

Boston Bruins

The Thrashers traded Peverley and Boris Valabik to the Bruins in favor of acquiring Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart in February 2011. Later that season Peverley and now Dallas Star Tyler Seguin won the Stanley Cup with Boston on June 15th, 2011.

Dallas Stars

After a short time with the B’s Peverley was dealt to Dallas in the blockbuster trade of the 2013 offseason. It was the deal that brought Seguin and Ryan Button to Dallas, sending Loui Eriksson, Joe Morrow, Reilly Smith, and Matt Fraser to Boston. The start of the 2013-2014 NHL season was an adjustment period for number 17 to say the least. Even still he managed 30 points (7G, 23A) in 62 games for the Stars.

Collapse and Rehab

When exiting the ice during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 11th, 2014 Peverley collapsed on the bench and had to be revived by the Dallas Stars medical staff. He was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that he had a heart condition and needed surgery.

A few months later he began the rehabilitation process with every hope of returning to the NHL. Peverley didn’t play at all for the Stars last season, which made it more apparent that his playing career was more than likely over. He did, however, serve as an assistant coach for the Texas Stars in which he skated and performed various exercises with the team.

His Legacy

Peverley ended his career having devoted ten seasons to the league playing 442 games for four NHL organizations. During that time he accumulated 241 points (84G, 157A).

More than the numbers and statistics of his play, though, is his legacy of influencing young NHL hopefuls. After overcoming obstacles to reach the NHL Peverley was older when he reached the league, making him a very wise rookie and a leader for young guns. Tyler Seguin was one of those guys and he tweeted this today thanking Peverley and acknowledging his successful career.

As unfortunate as it is that Peverley’s career ended so suddenly, there’s something to be said about a guy who accomplished so much playing the game he loves.

What is your favorite Rich Peverley moment? Leave it in the comments below. As always, thanks for reading!

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