Topic: Kris Draper

Kristopher Draper (born May 24, 1971) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. At times, Draper served as a alternate captain for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) (wearing the "A" during home games). Draper is a four-time winner of the Stanley Cup, a Frank J. Selke Trophy winner and has scored over 100 goals in a Red Wings uniform. Draper was a member of the famous Grind Line in Detroit, consisting of himself, Kirk Maltby and either Joe Kocur or Darren McCarty. The line was reunited with the return of McCarty to the Wings in the 2007–08 season.

Draper grew up in West Hill, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, playing minor hockey for the Don Mills Flyers of the MTHL. He was selected by the OHL's Windsor Spitfires in the 4th round of the 1988 OHL Priority Selection, however, elected to play for the Canadian National Team.

Drafted 62nd overall in the 1989 Draft by the Winnipeg Jets, Draper did not see much NHL action in his early years. He is a rarity in that he played in the American Hockey League (AHL) and NHL before playing junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). After playing just 20 games in the 4 seasons since he was drafted, he was traded to Detroit in 1993 for a dollar. Doug MacLean, the general manager of the Adirondack Red Wings at that time and a former Detroit Red Wings assistant, was responsible for the trade. Draper would quickly become a valuable fixture in Detroit's rotation, and he began his reputation as the "One Dollar Man."