Garrett Stafford

Garrett Stafford (born January 28, 1980) is a professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a part of the Edmonton Oilers organization.

Playing career
Stafford played two years of junior hockey for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League before joining the New Hampshire Wildcats. He played for UNH for four years (although he missed the first semester of his senior season because he was academically ineligible.) He was an assistant captain his junior year. He ended his college career with a national championship game, which UNH lost 5-1 to Minnesota.

On December 9, 2003, he was signed as a free agent by the San Jose Sharks, and spent three seasons with the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the Cleveland Barons (later the Worcester Sharks.)

His first pro season ended with an ugly incident. On April 30, 2004, Stafford was playing for the Cleveland Barons against the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Calder Cup playoffs when he got into an altercation with Hamilton's winger Alexander Perezhogin. Stafford cross-checked Perezhogin in the face resulting in them both falling to the ice. As they were getting up Stafford took another swing with his stick, this time making contact with the back of Perezhogin's helmet. In response, Perezhogin swung his stick into Stafford's face as he was getting up. The slash knocked Stafford unconscious resulting in a concussion and sending him into convulsions on the ice as well as causing severe facial wounds which required 20 stitches to repair.

Perezhogin was charged with assault causing bodily harm] and was given a one year probation as well as being ordered to cover Stafford's medical expenses and donate a further $5000 to charity. Perezhogin was also suspended for the rest of the playoffs and the whole of the 2004–05 season, the longest suspension in AHL history. Stafford was also suspended for six games for his part in the incident. He made a full recovery in time for the next season.

On July 16, 2007, he was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Red Wings, who sent him to their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Stafford played his first NHL game on February 23, 2008, against the Vancouver Canucks. He was recalled by the Wings earlier that day after injuries to Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Chris Chelios. Stafford was released by the Red Wings after the 2008 Stanley Cup run and on July 3, 2008, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Stars. On October 4, 2008, the Stars loaned him back to Grand Rapids. The Stars recalled him on March 29, 2009. In the 2009–10 season he was assigned to Dallas' AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, and helped Texas reach the Calder Cup finals in its inaugural year.

On July 3, 2010, Stafford was signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes to a one-year contract.

On October 23, 2011, the Montreal Canadiens acquired Stafford and forward Petteri Nokelainen from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for forward Brock Trotter and a seventh-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Stafford was signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals on July 2, 2012. Due to the impending 2012 NHL lockout, he was directly assigned to AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, to begin the 2012–13 season. On April 2, 2013, Stafford was traded by the Capitals to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Dane Byers.

Awards

 * 2002 Hockey East Second All-Star Team
 * 2003 Hockey East All-Tournament Team
 * 2004 AHL Second All-Star Team
 * 2004 AHL All-Rookie Team