Craig Simpson

Craig Simpson (born February 15, 1967 in London, Ontario, Canada) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres.

Playing career
Simpson played university hockey for the Michigan State Spartans of the NCAA from 1983–84 to 1984–85.

Simpson was drafted in the 1st Round, 2nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Paul Coffey. Simpson reached a career high of 56 goals in 1987–88 and won two Stanley Cups in 1988 and 1990.

He retired as a player in 1996 finishing with an all-time 497 points.

Broadcasting career
After retiring as a player, Simpson joined FOX television as a hockey analyst. In 1998, Simpson joined CTV Sportsnet as a colour commentator for Edmonton Oilers regional games, as well as the network's weekly national broadcasts. He left in 2003 to become an assistant coach with the Oilers. After the 2006–07 season, he resigned from his position with the club to take a job as a colour commentator for CBC Television, alongside former Sportsnet partner Jim Hughson. Beginning in the 2008-09 season, Hughson and Simpson are the primary Hockey Night in Canada broadcast team and call the Stanley Cup Finals. When Rogers Media gained the NHL rights in 2014, the pair shifted to the company, with Hughson and Simpson re-joining Sportsnet.

Simpson is also the former colour commentator for the EA Sports NHL franchise, along with play-by-play partner Jim Hughson. Simpson also appears in TV commercials and print ads for Carpet Superstores of Edmonton.

On March 22, 2008, he and Jim Hughson called the NHL game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche at 1 p.m. MDT. They then boarded a chartered plane to Calgary where the pair then announced the third game of the Hockey Night in Canada triple-header between the Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild at 8 p.m. MDT. This is believed to be a first in the National Hockey League.

Coaching career
Craig Simpson joined his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, in 2005 and served as an assistant coach of the team. He helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 2005–06 season.

Awards & Achievements

 * 1987–88 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
 * 1989–90 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)

Career statistics

 * *-Stanley Cup Champion