Paul Kariya scored 91 goals and 153 assists for 244 points in 94 games for the Penticton Panthers of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. He was the first freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, notching 33 goals and 91 assists for 124 points in 51 games, helping the University of Maine to a 42-1-2 record, and the 1992-93 NCAA and Hockey East titles in his only full season. His brother, Steve, captained Maine to the 1998-99 NCAA title. Their brother, Martin, helped Maine get to the 2002 "Frozen Four" finals.

 

His miss in a shootout with Sweden cost Canada the 1994 Olympic silver medal, but he helped Canada win gold in the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was picked by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (now known as the Anaheim Ducks) 4th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.

 

His best season statistically so far was 1995-96, scoring 50 goals and 58 assists for 108 points. When Anaheim traded for Teemu Selänne with the Winnipeg Jets, Kariya was placed on a line with Selänne, and Steve Rucchin. The combinition of Paul and Teemu became a lethal force against their opponents becoming one of the best duos in the NHL.

 

Paul missed the 1998 Winter Olympics due to a concussion suffered from an on-ice crosscheck by Gary Suter.

 

In 2003, he and the Ducks reached their first Stanley Cup finals. Kariya was third on the team in playoff scoring (behind Adam Oates and Petr Sykora), scoring six goals and adding six assists. However he will best be remembered for a dramatic moment. During the second period in Game 6, Kariya took a hard check from the New Jersey Devils' Scott Stevens and lay on the ice for several minutes. He went to the locker room, but returned and 11 minutes later scored a goal to give the Ducks a 4-1 lead. Anaheim would win the game 5-2, but lose the series in 7 games. Many felt Kariya's equipment changes following his first concussion may have saved him from being rendered unconscious from the Stevens hit.

 

At a team rally following the Ducks' Game 7 loss to the Devils, Kariya promised to bring the Cup to Anaheim in 2004. But, the Ducks failed to qualify the captain's $10 million contract, making him a free agent. Kariya took an $8.5 million paycut, ensuring himself unrestricted free agency at season's end, when he and former Ducks teammate Teemu Selänne, signed with the Colorado Avalanche on July 3, 2003. Because of Kariya's salary demand and Selänne's lack of points, Colorado did not re-sign them.

 

Kariya signed a two year contract with the Nashville Predators on August 5, 2005, as an unrestricted free agent.

 

Kariya, in the 2005-2006 NHL Season, tallied 31 goals and 54 assists, accumulating his most points since the 1999-2000 campaign. Paul played in all 82 games, joining Dan Hamhuis as the only Predators to do so. On April 18, 2006 , the last day of the regular season, Kariya scored a hat trick against the Detroit Red Wings in a 6-3 win. Kariya finished the year 4th in the NHL in shootout shot percentage, converting on 5 of 7 attempts.

 

On November 1, 2006, Kariya made it to the 800 point milestone against the Edmonton Oilers.

 

During the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kariya notched 2 assists.

 

On July 1, 2007, Kariya signed a 3 year contract worth $18 million with the St. Louis Blues.

 

Kariya was assigned as one of the alternate captain's of the Blues organization. He, along with Keith Tkachuk, and Barret Jackman will rotate the position through out the season. Kariya leads the team with points this year and he also scored a hat trick against the Stars on December 29, 2007 recording his 900th carrer point