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1979
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1979 NHL DRAFT PICK
Neal Broten
Selected in second round
No. 42 overall by Minnesota North Stars

Born November 29, 1959
Position: Center
Height: 5-9   Weight: 160
BEFORE THE DRAFT
Last Team: Minnesota (WCHA)                          
Birthplace: Roseau, Minnesota (USA)
Hometown: Roseau, Minnesota
PRE-DRAFT STATISTICS
Year TeamLeague GPG ATP PIM
1977-78 RoseauMinn. H.S. --43 77120 --
1978-79 MinnesotaWCHA 4021 5071 18

PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
NCAA Championship:
1979 (Minnesota)
World Junior Championships: 1979 (sixth place)
Minnesota Pond Award (Rookie of Year): 1978-79
Miscellaneous: Scored game-winning goal and had assist in Minnesota's 4-3 win over North Dakota in 1979 NCAA championship game. ... Was considered top high school player in Minnesota during his senior year at Roseau High School. ... Played on line with brother Aaron at both Roseau High School and University of Minnesota (1980-81 season only). ... Was regarded by coach Herb Brooks as best freshman in University of Minnesota hockey history.
NHL CAREER
Debut: March 31, 1981 (St. Louis at Minnesota)
Numbers:  7 (Minnesota/Dallas) (number retired); 9 (New Jersey);
10 (Los Angeles)
Stanley Cup: 1995.  Playing Status: Retired September 1997
CAREER NHL STATISTICS
Years TeamsGP GA TPPIM
1981-1997 Minn./Dallas, N.J., L.A.1,099 289634 923569
CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS
Years TeamsGP GA TPPIM
1981-1997 Minn./Dallas, N.J., L.A.135 3563 9877

NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
Lester Patrick Trophy (Contribution to U.S. Hockey):
1979-80 (as member of 1980 U.S. Olympic team), 1997-98
All-Star Game: 1983, 1986 (Minnesota)
Hockey News Comeback Player of Year: 1985-86 (Min.) (tri-winner)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1981, 1991 (Minnesota)
Minnesota Masterton Cup (MVP): 1983-84, 1985-86
Minnesota Home Three-Stars Leader: 1981-82, 1983-84
Minnesota WCTN-TV Trophy (Rookie of Year): 1981-82
Minnesota Stargazers Club Award (Most Popular): 1981-82 (tie), 1982-83, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1988-89
Minnesota WCCO-Radio Trophy (Points Leader): 1982-83 (77, tie), 1983-84 (89), 1985-86 (105)
Minnesota Emery Edge Trophy (+/- Leader): 1982-83 (plus-24)
Dallas Captain: Jan. 31, 1995, until Feb. 27, 1995
Minnesota/Dallas Records: Most seasons (16), most assists in a season (76 in 1985-86), most points by a rookie (98 in 1981-82), most goals by a rookie (38 in 1981-82), most assists by a rookie (60 in 1981-82), most assists by a center in one season (76 in 1985-86), most consecutive playoff games with at least one point (8 in 1991, shares record)
100-Point Seasons: 1985-86 (Minnesota) (105)
Minnesota Assists Leader: 1983-84 (61), 1985-86 (76), 1989-90 (62), 1990-91 (56)
Minnesota Playoffs Assists Leader: 1992 (5)
Miscellaneous: Signed first NHL contract with Minnesota after completing his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota in March 1981. ... Scored goal in his first NHL game. ... Missed part of 1981-82 season with fractured ankle, an injury suffered during Minnesota's Dec. 26, 1981, game vs. St. Louis. ... Played on line with Dino Ciccarelli and Tom McCarthy for Minnesota in 1981-82. ... Set NHL single-season records (since broken) for points (97), goals (38) and assists (60) by a U.S.-born player in 1981-82. ... Set Minnesota record (since broken) for consecutive games with at least one goal (7 in 1981-82). ... Set NHL single-season records (since broken) for points (105) and assists (76) by a U.S.-born player in 1985-86. ... Played on line with Scott Bjugstad and Dino Ciccarelli for Minnesota in 1985-86. ...  Became first U.S.-born player in NHL history to score 100 points in a single season, a feat he achieved during Minnesota's March 26, 1986, game at Toronto. ... Missed parts of 1986-87 season with dislocated shoulder, an injury suffered during Minnesota's Oct. 30, 1986, game vs. Detroit. ... Missed remainder of 1986-87 season with torn shoulder ligaments, an injury suffered in March 1987. ... Became Minnesota career assists leader during North Stars' Oct. 22, 1987, game at Quebec. ... Missed part of 1987-88 season with separated shoulder, an injury suffered during Minnesota's Nov. 13, 1987, game at Buffalo. He missed only three games and returned to the lineup for the next three months, but the injury required season-ending reconstructive surgery on Feb. 17, 1988. ... Missed part of 1988-89 season with sprained shoulder, an injury suffered during Minnesota's Feb. 11, 1989, game vs. Detroit. ... Became Minnesota career points leader during North Stars' March 22, 1990, game at Detroit. ... Was Minnesota's nominee for 1989-90 Masterton Trophy. ... Missed part of 1990-91 season with strained groin, an injury suffered during Minnesota's practice on Dec. 18, 1990. ... Was Minnesota's nominee for 1990-91 King Clancy Trophy. ... Missed entire 1991 training camp and start of 1991-92 season due to contract dispute with Minnesota. ... Became Minnesota career leader in games played when he played in his 761st game on March 25, 1991, vs. St. Louis, breaking the previous record held by Curt Giles. ... Was Minnesota's nominee for 1992-93 Masterton Trophy. ...  Was on Minnesota team that relocated to Dallas on June 9, 1993. ... Missed part of 1993-94 season with pulled hip muscle, an injury suffered during Dallas' Oct. 9, 1993, game vs. Winnipeg. ... Had assist in first game with New Jersey, on March 2, 1995, at Boston. ... Played 1,000th NHL game for New Jersey vs. Florida on April 28, 1995. ... Missed parts of 1995-96 season with bruised knee, an injury suffered during New Jersey's Nov. 11, 1995, game vs. Philadelphia, and with sprained left ankle, an injury suffered during New Jersey's Feb. 16, 1996, game at Buffalo. ... Played on lines with Dave Andreychuk and John MacLean, with MacLean and Stephane Richer, and with MacLean and Valeri Zelepukin for New Jersey in 1995-96 ... Missed part of 1996-97 season with strained groin, an injury suffered during Dallas' March 19, 1997, game vs. Phoenix. ... Released by Dallas as an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 25, 1997, although he did not officially retire at that time despite a reported rumor that he had done so. He was unable to catch on with another team, however, and forced to retire the following month. ... His final player agent was former Minnesota North Stars general manager Lou Nanne. ... Retired with Minnesota/Dallas franchise records (since broken) for career games (992), career points (867), career goals (342), career assists (593), career shorthanded goals (24), career playoff games (115) and career playoff assists (51). ... Dallas retired Broten's No. 7 on Feb. 7, 1998. ... Named Minnesota Wild grass-roots advisor prior to team's inaugural 2000-01 season, helping build awareness in the Twin Cities community. He remained in that position through 2002-03 season, making appearances on team's behalf.
Broten's Holdout: Broten became an unrestricted free agent following the 1990-91 season and immediately found himself in a contract dispute with Minnesota, the team with which he hoped to remain. The North Stars offered Broten a four-year, $2.6 million deal, which came up short of Broten and agent Ron Simon's contract demands. To protest the offer, Broten signed a one-year "tryout" contract with the German team Berlin SC Preussen on Aug. 8, 1991. The contract paid him $50,000 for seven weeks of hockey, while giving him the right to return to the North Stars or join the 1992 U.S. Olympic team any time before Sept. 28, 1991. Berlin was in position to make the special offer to Broten because he could fill Dave Silk's roster spot while Silk was back in the United States with his pregnant wife. The German contract put extra pressure on Minnesota general manager Bob Clarke to get a deal done. Clarke had been offering $400,000 per season over four years, plus an additional $1 million paid out at $100,000 per year for the 10 years after the contract expired. The North Stars also offered to donate $10,000 per year to a college fund for Broten's daughters as long as he remained with the franchise. Clarke initially refused to change his offer, fearing it would set off a chain of players leaving for Europe as a similar negotiating tactic. The situation remained in a stalemate through the month of September, but Broten finally accepted a revised $3.4 million deal from the North Stars on Oct. 5, 1991. The new contract paid $350,000 per season over four years and $200,000 per year for the 10 years after the contract expired. As part of the deal, Broten agreed to make public appearances for the franchise during the first 10 years after his retirement. Clarke also gave Broten a verbal agreement that he would never be traded to a Canadian team, although Clarke refused to make an overall no-trade clause one of the written contract terms Broten demanded.
NON-NHL CAREER
Post-Draft Teams: Team USA; Minnesota (WCHA); Berlin (Germany); Phoenix (IHL)
Olympics: 1980 (gold medal)
Canada Cup: 1981 (fourth), 1984 (fourth)
World Championships: 1990 (fifth place)
NON-NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
United States Hockey Hall of Fame:
Inducted in 2000 as individual and again in 2003 as member of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1983 as member of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.
Hobey Baker Award: 1980-81 (Minnesota) (first winner)
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of Year: 1980 (as member of 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team)
USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award: 1996
NCAA All-America West First Team: 1980-81 (Minnesota)
WCHA All-Star First Team: 1980-81 (Minnesota)
Miscellaneous: Was 16th and final member of 1980 USA "Miracle on Ice" team to be drafted by an NHL team. ... Was youngest member of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. ... Named College Hockey Player of the Year by Hockey Magazine for 1980-81. ... Was on Minnesota team that joined Montreal to compete in the 1990 NHL Friendship Tour in Soviet Union. ... Came out of retirement to play two games for Team USA in 1998 World Championships qualifying tournament at the age of 39, helping USA retain its position in the World Championships' Pool A. ... Owned horses with his wife during his playing days. ... Active in charitable causes during his playing days in Minnesota, including work with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. ... Moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, and managed the Sally Broten Horse Company with his wife after retirement. The company raises and trains reining horses. ... Played in Heroes of Hockey game at NHL All-Star Weekend in 2001. ... Named to all-time USA Hockey All-Star First Team in April 1997. ... Named USA Hockey Player of Decade for the period from 1976 to 1986. ... Named one of WCHA's all-time Top 50 players by conference on March 7, 2002. ... Named the 21st most important sports figure in Minnesota history by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune in 1999. ... Named one of the 50 greatest players in University of Minnesota hockey history as part of "Legends on Ice" tribute in 2001.
Personal: Full name is Neal LaMoy Broten. ... Older brother of former NHL players Aaron Broten and Paul Broten. ... Husband of former rodeo competitor Sally Broten.
HOW HE GOT AWAY
TRADE: Dallas traded Broten to New Jersey in exchange for Corey Millen on February 27, 1995. Two years later, Dallas got Broten back, claiming him on waivers from Los Angeles on January 28, 1997.

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SNAPSHOT '79
Total Selected: 126
Forwards: 74
Defense: 41
Goaltenders: 11
Major Junior: 97
College Players: 15
Canadian: 109
Euro-Canadian: 1
USA Citizens: 10
U.S.-Born: 10
European: 6
Reached NHL: 103
Won Stanley Cup: 23
Hall of Fame: 3
All-Star Game: 23
Year-end All-Star: 10
Olympians: 15
Picks Traded: 17
 
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