Keith Primeau

Keith David Primeau (born November 24, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. He is currently the special assistant to the general manager and director of player development of the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL, assistant hockey coach at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, the coach of Revolution in the Revolution Ice gardens, and the owner of a franchise of Bain's Deli in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the older brother of Wayne Primeau.

Primeau was drafted third overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings after playing two years with the Niagara Falls Thunder of the OHL. He split his first two professional seasons with Detroit and the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL. He set career highs in assists (42), points (73), and plus/minus (+34) in 1993–94. He made his only Stanley Cup Finals appearance while with the Red Wings in 1995, losing in a sweep to the New Jersey Devils. Primeau held out after the club signed Igor Larionov and after playing for Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, Detroit traded him along with Paul Coffey and a 1997 first round draft pick (Nikos Tselios) to the Hartford Whalers for Brendan Shanahan and Brian Glynn a few days following the start of the 1996–97 season.

Primeau became a leader with his new team when the franchise moved to North Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes, being named team captain in 1998–99. He missed the majority of the 1999–2000 NHL season after holding out, however, and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers along with a 2000 fifth round draft pick (Kristofer Ottosson) for Rod Brind'Amour, Jean-Marc Pelletier and a 2000 second round draft pick (Agris Saviels) on January 23, 2000. On May 5, 2000, Primeau scored the game-winning goal in the longest game in modern NHL playoff history (five overtime periods for a total of 152 minutes and one second) against Ron Tugnutt of the Pittsburgh Penguins in game four of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Only two games, in 1933 and 1936, were longer.

In his first full season with the Flyers, Primeau led the team in goals (34) and tied his career high in points (73). Early in the following season, he was named team captain after defenceman Éric Desjardins resigned from the position. After posting nearly identical seasons statistically in 2001–02 and 2002–03, Primeau was given the task of centering a more defense-oriented line in 2003–04. He did well enough to earn a place in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game, the second of his career. In the 2004 playoffs, Primeau recorded nine goals and seven assists for a total of 16 points; it was the best playoff year of Primeau's career and his play carried the team to within a game of the Stanley Cup finals. In game six of the Eastern Conference finals, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Primeau scored the game-tying goal with 1:49 left in regulation. The Flyers won the game, 5–4 in overtime, sending the series back to Tampa for game seven. The Flyers went on to lose that game by a score of 2–1. Hockey legend Phil Esposito later told Primeau that "During the '04 playoffs, when you and the Flyers took the Lightning to seven games, you were the most dominating player I ever saw. More than Orr, Howe, Gretzky, or anyone."

Nine games into the 2005–06 season, Primeau suffered a concussion which ended his season. As a result of ongoing post-concussion syndrome, he officially announced his retirement on September 14, 2006. On February 12, 2007, the Flyers honoured Primeau before a game against the Detroit Red Wings, the team which originally drafted him. An emotional Primeau thanked the fans for welcoming him back.

Primeau has been a resident of Voorhees Township, New Jersey.

Primeau, along with his brother Wayne and Las Vegas Wranglers General Manager Ryan Mougenel own and operate the Toronto-based Durham Hockey Institute. The three of them are also part-owners of the Whitby Fury, a member of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

• 1989–90: Second All-Star Team OHL
• 1989–90: Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Leading Scorer OHL
• 1998–99: Played in All-Star Game NHL
• 2000–01: Yanick Dupre Memorial (Philadelphia Flyers)
• 2002–03: Toyota Cup (Philadelphia Flyers)
• 2003–04: Played in All-Star Game NHL

• May 5, 2000: Ended longest game in modern NHL playoff history with his goal at 92:01 of overtime.

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996	Canada	WCH	2nd		5	0	0	0	21
1997	Canada	WC	01 !		11	3	3	6	14
1998	Canada	OG	4th		6	2	1	3	4
1998	Canada	WC	6th		6	3	1	4	4
Senior int'l totals					28	8	5	13	43

All-Star Games