Russ Courtnall

Russell William Courtnall (born June 2, 1965) is a former Canadian NHL player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. Courtnall was born in Duncan, British Columbia, but grew up in Oak Bay, British Columbia.

Courtnall was born in Duncan, British Columbia. Coming out of junior hockey, he was considered one of the top prospects in 1983 and the Toronto Maple Leafs selected him seventh overall in the Entry Draft. In 1982–83, Courtnall scored 36 goals and 61 assists for 97 points in 60 games. After being drafted by the Leafs, Courtnall appeared in just 32 games with the Cougars, scoring 29 goals and 66 points before being called up to the Maple Leafs, who were in dire need of scoring help at the time. As a rookie with Toronto, he scored 12 goals and 22 points in 69 games. Although his goal production was not as high as the Leafs had hoped for, his speed opened up opportunities, especially for his linemates.

In 1984, Courtnall also suited up for the Canadian Olympic team, which finished out of the medals at the Sarajevo Games. Upon returning, he rejoined the Maple Leafs. In 1985–86 (playing alongside fellow Notre Dame Hounds alumni Gary Leeman and rookie Wendel Clark on what was dubbed The Hound Line), Courtnall broke the 20-goal barrier, notching 22 to go along with 38 assists for 60 points. His offensive numbers improved the following year with 29 goals and 73 points.

In trying to force Courtnall to play a tougher brand of hockey, the club saw his offensive production decrease in 1987–88. After just nine games into the 1988–89 season, the Maple Leafs dealt Courtnall to the Montreal Canadiens for enforcer John Kordic. Although Courtnall's stock had clearly gone down in the eyes of Maple Leafs' management, most observers felt Montreal got a steal in that trade.

In 64 games, Courtnall put up 39 points with the Habs, but his fast skating and stickhandling abilities made him a fan favourite. Courtnall saved his best performance for the playoffs, where the Canadiens advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup finals before losing to the Calgary Flames. In 21 post-season games, Courtnall contributed eight goals and 13 points.

Courtnall enjoyed another two-and-a-half years in Montreal before joining the Minnesota North Stars for the 1992–93 season. In 84 games, he managed a career-high 36 goals and 43 assists for 79 points. He followed that up with an 80-point season in the team's first year of play in Dallas. Late in the 1994–95 season, Courtnall was traded to the Vancouver Canucks where he teamed with his brother, Geoff Courtnall, for 13 games that year.

In 1997–98, Courtnall signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings, where he played until his retirement following the 1998–99 season. He finished with 297 goals, 447 assists and 744 points in a 15-year NHL career.

Courtnall was a participant in both the second and third seasons of Battle of the Blades, the latter as a last-minute replacement for the late Wade Belak, but was eliminated early in the competition on both occasions.

• November 7, 1988– Traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for John Kordic and Montreal's 1989 6th round draft choice (Mike Doers).
• August 31, 1992– Traded by the Canadiens to the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for Brian Bellows.
• June 9, 1993– Rights transferred to the Dallas Stars after the North Stars relocated.
• April 7, 1995– Traded by the Stars to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Greg Adams, Dan Kesa and Vancouver's 1995 fifth round draft choice.
• March 8, 1997– Traded by the Canucks, along with Esa Tikkanen, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Sergei Nemchinov and Brian Noonan.
• November 7, 1997– Signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings.