Phil Esposito
Retired professional ice hockey executive, coach, and player, Philip Anthony Esposito is well recognized by the name Phil Esposito. Throughout his playing career, Esposito played for Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins, New York Ranger and also for his national side, Canada National Team.
Following his retirement as a player, Esposito served as general manager and head coach of the New York Rangers prior to co-founding the Tampa Bay Lightning. Currently, Esposito serves as Tampa Bay’s radio commentator, having previously served as the principal studio analyst for the NHL on Fox from 1995 to 1998.
Phil Esposito's Net Worth and Salary in 2019; Other Properties and Business Ventures
Currently 75, Phil Esposito has earned hung name, fame and wealth through his professional broadcasting career and as a professional ice-hockey player and managerial career. Previously, he also served for the NHL on Fox as studio analyst following his retirement.
Esposito has an estimated net worth around $17 million as of 2019. His annual salary for 1963 was $54,990. In 1977, he earned $325,000 as his annual wage and was the highest paid player in NFL that season.
Phil Esposito Funds and Charity
Esposito received a $100k donation from the Lightning Foundation while receiving The Tampa Bay Lightning honor as the 53rd Lightning Community Hero of the Season. The donated money would be donated to the Wounded Warrior Projects and youth as well as amateur hockey programming in the Tampa Bay region.
In 1979, he along with his Rangers teammates recorded a song written by Alan Thicke as a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation named, “Hockey Sock Rock”.
Phil Esposito Married Bridget Esposito after his First Divorce
Phil Esposito has married twice. He first tied the knot with Linda Esposito. Together with Linda, he has a daughter named Carrie Esposito Selivanov. Not much about their relationship is known such as how long they stayed together or reason for the divorce.
Phil Esposito and his wife Linda SOURCE: Getty Images After his divorce in 1976, Esposito stayed almost 23 years single then decided to exchange the wedding vows with Bridget Esposito in 1999. The couple is still together and living a blissful life without any news and rumors about divorce and extra-marital affairs in their relationship.
View this post on InstagramCelebrating 19 wonderful years! Happy Anniversary Bridget! #happyanniversary #love #celebrate
Back on 30th January 2012, Esposito lost his daughter, Carrie who suddenly died of an abdominal aneurysm. Late Carrie’s only son is now living with his maternal grandparents Phil and Bridget.
Phil Esposito's Bio and Early Life
Phil Esposito was born on 20th February 1942, in Sault Ste, Marie, Ontario, to Frances Esposito and Pat Esposito. Regarding his nationality, he is a Canadian and he belongs to white ethnicity. His birth sign is Pisces.
Phil Esposito grew up alongside his only brother Tony Esposito, a former Canadian-American professional ice hockey goaltender.
Playing Career of Phil Esposito
Chicago Black Hawks
Phil Esposito signed his first professional contract with the Chicago Black Hawks and was soon assigned to the Sarina Legionnaries Jr. ‘B’ hockey team for the 1960-61 seasons. The following season he played for the St. Catharines Teepees of the Ontario Hockey Association and next two years he spent with Chicago’s minor league affiliate, the St Louis Braves.
For 2016 season, Esposito was called up to the parent Black Hawk to make his National Hockey League debut.
Boston Bruins
In 1967, Esposito was traded along with Fred Stanfield and Ken Hodge to the Boston Bruins in a blockbuster trade. At Boston, he bloomed into the greatest scorer of his days. He played total 8 seasons representing Boston Bruins. He played in NHL All-Star Game.
New York Rangers
For the 1975-76 season, Esposito and his teammate Carol Vadnais was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for Jean Ratelle, Brad Park, and Joe Zanussi.
On 4th November 1977, Esposito scored his 600th NHL goal in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks which lead to reserve the first position to have the milestone in a Rangers uniform.
In the year 1981, he retired as the player.
Awards and honors throughout his playing career
- Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy (1968-1969)
- Stanley Cup (1969-1970)
- Art Ross Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award (1970-1971)
- Stanley Cup champion and Art Ross Trophy (1971-1972)
- Lou Marsh Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award, and Art Ross Trophy (1972- 1973)
- Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy (1973-1974)
- Lester Patrick Trophy (1977-1978)
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1984)
Also Read: Bobby Orr Biography
Phil Esposito's Managerial Career
In the mid-1980s, Phil Esposito began his career as head coach and general manager for the Rangers. He served almost three years for the Rangers making numerous transactions notably trade for the Marcel Dionne. He also earned the nicked named, "Trader Phil".
Then he went on to found the NHL’s “Tampa Bay Lightning” but faced big competition from the Compuware Group. However, he made it to victory for Tampa Bay in 1992, serving as the team’s president and general manager until 1998.
In the Lightning’s initial season, he made hockey history by signing Manon Rheaume. The signing made Rheaume the very first women to sign with the NHL team.
After his retirement as general manager, Esposito remains the team’s radio color commentator as well as co-host a daily call-in show on SiriusXM’s “SiriusXM NHL Network Radio” channel.
Throughout his playing and managerial career, Phil Esposito is awarded various prestigious awards. In 1984, he was inducted into the “Hockey Hall of Fame” and was also included into “Ontario Sports Hall of Fame” in the year 2004. Notably, he is the very first player in NHL history to score 1,000 points of the 1970s.
Others
In 1979, Phil Esposito and his Rangers teammates Anders Hedberg, Dave Maloney, and Roy Duguay appeared in a TV commercial for Sasson designer jeans.
Furthermore, Esposito also featured in “Knots Landing”, “Warbirds”, “Rescue Me”, “The Curse of Clara: A Holiday tale”, and “Sicilian Vampire”.