Greg de Vries, a Canadian defenseman, embarked on his professional hockey journey undrafted, which is a testament to his perseverance and skill. Born on January 4, 1973, in Sundridge, Ontario, de Vries began his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers. He joined the team during the 1995-1996 season, marking the start of a lengthy career in the National Hockey League.
De Vries' tenure with the Oilers was relatively short, as he was traded to the Nashville Predators in 1998. However, his time with Nashville was brief, and he soon found himself with the Colorado Avalanche. It was with the Avalanche that de Vries experienced one of the highlights of his career. During the 2000-2001 season, he played a crucial role in helping the team secure the Stanley Cup. His defensive skills and reliability on the ice were instrumental in the Avalanche's successful playoff run.
After his stint with Colorado, de Vries continued to move around the league. He signed with the New York Rangers in 2003, where he played for a season before being traded to the Ottawa Senators. His time with the Senators was also short-lived, as he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2004. The NHL lockout in 2004-2005 interrupted his career, but de Vries returned to the Thrashers once the league resumed.
In 2007, de Vries returned to the Nashville Predators, bringing his career full circle. He spent the final years of his NHL career with the Predators, providing veteran leadership and stability to the team's defensive lineup. Over the course of his career, de Vries played in over 800 NHL games, scoring more than 200 points. His journey through the league is marked by his adaptability and steady presence on the blue line.
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