Paul Cavallini

Paul Cavallini
Born	(1965-10-13) October 13, 1965 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Washington Capitals St. Louis Blues Dallas Stars
NHL draft	205th overall, 1984 Washington Capitals
Playing career	1986–1995

Paul Edward "Wally" Cavallini (born October 13, 1965) is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman. He is the younger brother of former player Gino Cavallini, who was his teammate for several years with the St. Louis Blues. He is also the father of hockey prospect Cade Cavallini of the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies.

Background

Cavallini was born in Toronto, Ontario.

A steady defenceman with some offensive abilities, Cavallini was selected by the Washington Capitals in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He entered the NHL after a season at Providence College where the Friars lost in the National Championship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and future NHL star Adam Oates. After playing parts of two seasons with the Capitals, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues where he would spend almost six seasons including his best campaign, the 1989–90 season. He played in the 1990 All-Star game and led the league in plus/minus rating that season. He then returned to the Capitals for a second tour during the 1992–93 NHL season in a trade that sent Kevin Miller to the Blues. Cavallini would once again be traded by the Capitals, this time to the Dallas Stars where he would play until his retirement a few weeks into the 1995–96 NHL season.

In 564 NHL games, Cavallini scored 56 goals and 177 assists.

Cavallini missed 13 games during the 1990–91 season with a bizarre left index finger injury, in which he lost the tip of the finger. He suffered the injury while blocking a Doug Wilson slapshot during St. Louis' December 22, 1990, game vs. Chicago. The force of Wilson's shot literally severed the tip of Cavallini's finger. Cavallini found the tip of the finger inside his glove. Doctors hoped they could re-attach the tip in surgery, but their efforts failed. The piece of the finger was removed and the exposed bone covered with grafted skin. Cavallini did not return to action until St. Louis' January 25, 1991, game at Detroit. He scored a goal in that game.

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-Hockey East Rookie Team	1984–85

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1981–82	Dixie Beehives	OPJHL		5	1	1	2	7		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Henry Carr Crusaders	MetJHL		35	6	16	22	191		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Henry Carr Crusaders	MetJHL		54	20	41	61	190		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Providence College	HE		45	5	14	19	64		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Canada	Intl		52	1	11	12	95		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		15	3	4	7	20		6	0	2	2	56
1986–87	Washington Capitals	NHL		6	0	2	2	8		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		66	12	24	36	188		13	2	7	9	35
1987–88	Washington Capitals	NHL		24	2	3	5	66		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	St. Louis Blues	NHL		48	4	7	11	86		10	1	6	7	26
1988–89	St. Louis Blues	NHL		65	4	20	24	128		10	2	2	4	14
1989–90	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	8	39	47	106		12	2	3	5	20
1990–91	St. Louis Blues	NHL		67	10	25	35	89		13	2	3	5	20
1991–92	St. Louis Blues	NHL		66	10	25	35	95		4	0	1	1	6
1992–93	St. Louis Blues	NHL		11	1	4	5	10		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Washington Capitals	NHL		71	5	8	13	46		6	0	2	2	18
1993–94	Dallas Stars	NHL		74	11	33	44	82		9	1	8	9	4
1994–95	Dallas Stars	NHL		44	1	11	12	28		5	0	2	2	6
1995–96	Dallas Stars	NHL		8	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				564	56	177	233	750		69	8	27	35	114

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com