Highly decorated, record-setting forward Darren Haydar was a dominant performer over his 11 seasons in the American Hockey League.
The native of Milton, Ontario, made an immediate splash when he joined the Milwaukee Admirals in 2002-03, posting 75 points in 75 games and earning the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding rookie. The next year, Haydar followed a 59-point regular season by tallying 11 goals and 26 points in 22 postseason contests as Milwaukee captured its first Calder Cup championship.
Haydar helped the Admirals back to the Calder Cup Finals in 2006, potting 92 points in the regular season and 35 more in the playoffs. He then signed with the Atlanta Thrashers that offseason, setting the stage for one of the most memorable campaigns in AHL history.
Now with the Chicago Wolves, Haydar recorded a point in 39 consecutive contests to begin the 2006-07 season, averaging better than two points per game during the longest scoring streak in AHL history. He went on to lead the league with 122 points on the year and earn MVP honors before tallying 24 points in 15 playoff outings, finishing first overall in playoff scoring for the third time in four springs.
In 2007-08, Haydar wore the captain’s “C” for the Wolves and led them to a Calder Cup championship, on the way becoming the AHL’s all-time leader in postseason goals and points. He spent one season in Grand Rapids and one in Cleveland before returning to Chicago for his final three years in the league.
The leading career scorer for both the Admirals’ and Wolves’ AHL franchises, Haydar totaled 788 points in his 780 regular-season AHL games, ranking 14th all-time in scoring and 10th in assists (496), and he remains the league’s all-time leader in postseason goals (63) and points (143).