Jeff Finger

Jeffrey J. Finger (born December 18, 1979) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jeff Finger
Born (1979-12-18) December 18, 1979
Houghton, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for Colorado Avalanche
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Draft 240th overall, 1999
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2003–2012

Playing career

Finger was drafted 240th overall (8th round) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. While playing junior hockey with the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) he was selected the league's defenseman of the Year for the 1999–2000 season.[1] In the 2000–2001 season he was named St.Cloud's (WCHA) Outstanding Freshman Hockey Player. Finger resides in Calumet, Michigan during the summer and spends much of his time working out and fishing the streams near Lake Superior.

Finger played in the final 22 games of the 2006–07 season with the Avalanche. He made his NHL debut on February 20, 2007 against the Calgary Flames and recorded his first NHL point when he assisted on a Paul Stastny goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 27. On March 1 he scored his first NHL goal against Nikolai Khabibulin of the Chicago Blackhawks in a 6-1 rout.[2] Finger finished the season with one goal and four assists with 11 penalty minutes and a +10 plus/minus that tied for second on the team, trailing only team leader Ken Klee with a +18.[3]

On May 23, 2007, the Avalanche re-signed Finger to a one-year contract for the 2007–08 season.[4] In his first full season with the Avalanche, Finger emerged as a serviceable defenseman and played in a career-high 72 games, scoring 8 goals.

On July 1, 2008, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Finger to a four-year deal worth $3.5 million per season.[5] After two seasons with the Maple Leafs, Finger was placed on waivers on October 12, 2010 and sent down to the Leafs' AHL affiliate the following day.[6]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997–98 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 51 5 9 14 208 4 0 0 0 18
1998–99 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 55 11 28 39 199 6 0 3 3 14
1999–00 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 55 13 35 48 154 14 3 11 14 40
2000–01 St. Cloud State WCHA 41 4 5 9 84 — — — — —
2001–02 St. Cloud State WCHA 42 6 20 26 105 — — — — —
2002–03 St. Cloud State WCHA 24 5 8 13 46 — — — — —
2003–04 Reading Royals ECHL 10 2 5 7 24 — — — — —
2003–04 Hershey Bears AHL 63 2 9 11 88 — — — — —
2004–05 Hershey Bears AHL 75 4 11 15 125 — — — — —
2005–06 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 70 3 20 23 116 — — — — —
2006–07 Albany River Rats AHL 44 3 10 13 65 5 1 1 2 4
2006–07 Colorado Avalanche NHL 22 1 4 5 11 — — — — —
2007–08 Colorado Avalanche NHL 72 8 11 19 40 5 0 2 2 4
2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 66 6 17 23 43 — — — — —
2009–10 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 39 2 8 10 20 — — — — —
2010–11 Toronto Marlies AHL 23 0 5 5 8 — — — — —
2011–12 Toronto Marlies AHL 31 3 7 10 44 — — — — —
NHL totals 199 17 40 57 114 5 0 2 2 4

Awards and honors
Award Year
USHL
First All-Star Team 2000

References
  1. "Progaurd USHL Defensman of the Year". USHL. 2010-05-10. Archived from the original on 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  2. "Avalanche 6, Blackhawks 1". CBS Sports. 2007-03-01. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  3. "Finger proving he belongs". Rocky Mountain News. 2007-03-27. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  4. "Avalanche re-sign Leopold, 3 others". CBC. 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  5. "Maple Leafs sign Hagman, Finger and Joseph". TSN. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  6. "Les Leafs placent Jeff Finger au ballotage". Cyberpresse. 2010-10-13. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
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