John Erskine

John Erskine (born June 26, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals.

Playing career
Erskine grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Ajax, Ontario for the Ajax Knights of the OMHA's York-Simcoe League and the Ajax-Pickering Raiders AAA of the OMHA's Eastern AAA League.

After a solid 1995-96 season with the Ajax-Pickering Raiders Midget AAA team, Erskine signed for the following season with the Quinte Hawks Jr.A. team of the OHA's Metro Junior League.

The London Knights selected Erskine with the 2nd overall pick in the 1997 OHL Priority Selection.

Erskine was drafted 39th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. For the 1997–98, 1998–99, and 1999–2000 seasons, Erskine played for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Erskine won the Max Kaminsky Trophy as top defenceman in the OHL in 1999–2000. He showed marked improvement from season to season until his promotion to the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League in 2000.

Erskine's NHL debut came during the 2001–02 NHL season with Dallas, where he played 33 games, notching a single assist. He remained in Dallas until midway through the 2005–06 NHL season when Dallas traded Erskine to the New York Islanders for Finnish defenceman Janne Niinimaa. At the conclusion of the season, the Islanders did not re-sign Erskine, leaving him a free agent.

On September 14, 2006, Erskine signed as a free agent with the Washington Capitals. Following the end of the season he extended his stay with the Capitals for a further two years. During the Winter Classic played on January 1, 2011, Erskine fought Michael Rupp of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1st period.

Awards

 * 1999–2000 OHL First All-Star Team
 * 1999–2000 OHL Max Kaminsky Trophy
 * 1999–2000 CHL First All-Star Team (Canadian Major Junior)