Geoff M. Sanderson (born February 1, 1972, in Hay River, Northwest Territories) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger, most notably for the Hartford Whalers and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Drafted by the Hartford Whalers 36th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Sanderson made his NHL debut at the tail end of the 1990–91 season. After playing in 64 games in his first full season for the club in 1991–92, he registered career highs in goals (46), assists (43), and points (89) in 1992–93. Sanderson spent his first six NHL seasons with Hartford and played half a season with the franchise when they moved to Carolina. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in January 1998 and a little over a month later was sent to the Buffalo Sabres. He saw the most playoff action of his career during his three seasons with Buffalo, making it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998–99.

Left unprotected by Buffalo during the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft, Sanderson joined the Columbus Blue Jackets and scored 30-plus goals in 2000–01 and 2002–03. He returned to Vancouver at the trade deadline in 2003–04 and was reclaimed by Columbus off waivers in the off-season which was a condition of the trade. Once the 2004–05 NHL lockout came to an end, Sanderson was traded two games into the 2005–06 season to the Phoenix Coyotes. After scoring 25 goals in 75 games with Phoenix, Sanderson signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in the off-season.

A disappointing year with Philadelphia resulted in Sanderson being traded to Edmonton with Joni Pitkanen in exchange for Joffrey Lupul and former Oilers captain Jason Smith. Sanderson scored two goals against Philadelphia the first time he played against his former team. Following the 2008 season, Edmonton declined to tender Sanderson a contract, and while he has not yet formally announced his retirement, he has not played professional hockey since.

He has two cousins who also play in the NHL, Wade Brookbank and Sheldon Brookbank.

Awards

• Played in the NHL All-Star Game (1994, 1997)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1987–88	St. Albert Royals	AMHL		45	65	55	120	175		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		58	17	11	28	16		12	3	5	8	6
1988–89	Swift Current Broncos	M-Cup		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		70	32	62	94	56		4	1	4	5	8
1990–91	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		70	62	50	112	57		3	1	2	3	4
1990–91	Hartford Whalers	NHL		2	1	0	1	0		3	0	0	0	0
1990–91	Springfield Indians	AHL		—	—	—	—	—		1	0	0	0	2
1991–92	Hartford Whalers	NHL		64	13	18	31	18		7	1	0	1	2
1992–93	Hartford Whalers	NHL		82	46	43	89	28		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Hartford Whalers	NHL		82	41	26	67	42		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	HPK Hameenlinna	FNL		12	6	4	10	24		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Hartford Whalers	NHL		46	18	14	32	24		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Hartford Whalers	NHL		81	34	31	65	40		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Hartford Whalers	NHL		82	36	31	67	29		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		40	7	10	17	14		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		9	0	3	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		26	4	5	9	20		14	3	1	4	4
1998–99	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		75	12	18	30	22		19	4	6	10	14
1999–00	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		67	13	13	26	22		5	0	2	2	8
2000–01	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		68	30	26	56	46		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		42	11	5	16	12		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		82	34	33	67	34		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		67	13	16	29	34		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		13	3	4	7	4		7	1	1	2	4
2004–05	Genève-Servette HC	Swiss-A		9	4	1	5	29		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		75	25	21	46	58		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		58	11	18	29	44		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		41	3	10	13	16		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1104	355	345	700	511		55	9	10	19	32

International play

Played for Canada in:

• 1993 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships - 4th place finish
• 1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships - Gold medal winner
• 1997 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships - Gold medal winner

International statistics

Year	Team	Event	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993	Canada	WC	8	3	3	6	2
1994	Canada	WC	8	4	2	6	8
1997	Canada	WC	11	3	2	5	2

External links