A TRULY OFFENSIVE DEFENSEMAN, TOM KURVERS ADAPTED QUICKLY TO LIFE IN THE NHL, RECORDING 45 POINTS IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON.

Although Tom Kurvers may have been considered a defenceman, he always had his mind on offence. A gifted and unpredictable passer who had the ability to pinch in the offensive zone without warning, Kurvers was chosen by the Canadiens in the seventh round of the 1981 entry draft, 145th overall.

Prior to making his professional debut, Kurvers totaled 175 points over the course of his four seasons with the University of Minnesota Duluth. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 1982 as the top player in the NCAA as a result of his 76-point season.

Kurvers had a very good rookie season with Montreal in 1984-85, with 10 goals and 35 assists in 75 games. The following year, the young defenceman helped the Habs reach the playoffs but was unable to contribute to the team’s run to its 23rd Stanley Cup because of an injury.

Just one game into the 1986-87 season, Kurvers’ time with the Canadiens came to a sudden end when he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres.

In 138 games with Montreal, the offensive defenceman scored 17 goals and added 58 assists for 75 points.

Kurvers’ NHL career went on to take him to the league’s teams all over North America. After spending 55 games with Buffalo, he played the next three seasons with the New Jersey Devils. In 1989-90, he moved on to Toronto before a brief stint in Vancouver. Next, it was off to Long Island, where he spent three seasons with the New York Islanders. He ended his career in 1994-95 as a member of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Clearly undaunted by playing in a foreign environment, the American defenceman crossed the Pacific in 1995-96 to play for Seibu-Tetsudo in Tokyo.

After retiring for good, he joined the Phoenix Coyotes as a scout before becoming the team’s director of player personnel. In July 2008, Kurvers was hired as Tampa Bay’s assistant general manager.