Phil Esposito

Philip Anthony "Espo" Esposito OC (born February 20, 1942, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) is a Canadian broadcaster, and former professional ice hockey executive, coach and player. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time, and is the older brother of fellow Hall-of-Famer Tony Esposito, a goaltender.

The importance of teammates is the thing I appreciate the most from those years. I was a lucky guy. There is nothing better than good teammates. I don't care what anybody says, you can't do it alone. It takes a good team for you to be a good player, and the same goes for playing on a bad team.

After retiring as a player, Esposito served as head coach and general manager of the New York Rangers before co-founding the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was the principal studio analyst for the NHL on Fox 1995–1998. He now serves as Tampa Bay's radio colour commentator.

Quotes

• I never shot a deer. I've never shot anything in my life. I never hunted. I'm just not that type of guy. But there's no doubt in my mind that I would have killed to win. That really scares me sometimes. Right now I think about it, and I get little goose bumps. I would have done anything - absolutely anything - to win. In a war, maybe that's what happens. It was our society against their society.
  • Reported in Neil Milbert, "Classic Soviet series: When Canada's stars shone brightest", The Chicago Tribune (January 18, 1991), p. C-15.
• Play with passion and heart. If you don't carry passion into sport—or in any job for that matter—you won't succeed.
  • Quoted in Andrew Podnieks, "One on One with Phil Esposito," Legends of Hockey.net (2002-02-18).
• The importance of teammates is the thing I appreciate the most from those years. I was a lucky guy. There is nothing better than good teammates. I don't care what anybody says, you can't do it alone. It takes a good team for you to be a good player, and the same goes for playing on a bad team. I see Vincent Lecavalier play all the time. He gives it his all, but it comes down to your teammates,
  • Quoted in Andrew Podnieks, "One on One with Phil Esposito," Legends of Hockey.net (2002-02-18).
  • Esposito refers to his playing years.