Justin Williams

Philadelphia Flyers

Williams was drafted in the first round, 28th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. In four seasons played with the Flyers, however, Williams struggled to live up to expectations, as he tried to adapt to the varying systems of three separate coaches – Craig Ramsay (2000), Bill Barber (2000–2002) and Ken Hitchcock (2002–2006). Williams was also frequently injured, which simultaneously hampered his development. He broke his left hand in his rookie season (hit by David Tanabe of the Carolina Hurricanes) and had various sprains and strains in his sophomore year. Williams also suffered a left knee injury on January 18, 2003, when he was hit low by the Tampa Bay Lightning's Brad Lukowich. The hit tore Williams' anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL), and, on January 23, 2003, he had surgery to repair the ligaments. Originally projected to miss four to eight months recovering from the injury, Williams made it back into Philadelphia's line-up in just three months.

Carolina Hurricanes

Williams was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on January 20, 2004, in exchange for defenceman Danny Markov. During the NHL lock-out in 2004–05, he went overseas to play for Luleå HF of the Swedish Elitserien, where he posted 14 goals and 18 assists in 49 games.

Williams was signed to a one-year deal with the Hurricanes for the 2005–06 season, when he set career highs in games played (82), goals (31), assists (45), points (76) and penalty minutes (60).

In the 2006 Eastern Conference Quarter-finals, Williams injured Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu in the eye without being penalized in Game 3.^[3] In spite of the severity the injury caused by Williams' high-stick, which severely threatened Koivu's eyesight and forced him out of play for the remainder of the year, the NHL did not suspend Williams for his errant action, allowing him to continue participating in the playoffs.

Williams scored the final goal of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, an empty net goal at 18:59 of the third period of Game 7.^[4] With the score 2–1, a loose puck along the boards ended up on the stick of Bret Hedican, who passed it to Eric Staal. Seeing Williams open, Staal threw the puck down the ice to him. Williams skated down the ice and tapped the puck into the open net, sealing the Hurricanes' first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Hurricanes won the series 4–3.

On July 1, 2006, Williams signed a five-year deal with the Hurricanes, worth $3.5 million per season.

In 2006–07, Williams recorded career highs in goals (33), penalty minutes (73), power play goals (12) and game-winning goals (8). It was Williams' second consecutive season of 82 games played. Williams made his first appearance in an NHL All-Star game at the 2007 NHL All-Star game in Dallas, recording a goal and an assist. Williams also played for Team Canada in the World Championships, winning his second gold medal.

Williams (left) at the 2012 Stanley Cup parade.

Williams was off to a good start for his 2007–08 season, with 30 points in 36 games (9 goals, 21 assists), before his season ended. On December 20, 2007, during the first period of a game with the Florida Panthers, Williams suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee after a hit by Rostislav Olesz. Williams underwent successful surgery for the torn ligaments on December 26, 2007, and returned on April 1, 2008, only to leave the game with an unrelated back injury.

On September 17, 2008, Williams was thought to be sidelined for four-to-six months when he tore his right Achilles tendon in an off-ice, pre-season workout.^[5] Williams underwent surgery for the injury the following day, on September 18. Williams again surprised fans and analysts, however, when he returned from his injury on December 4, 2008, more than a month earlier than his earliest projected return date. He was greeted by a round of applause on his first shift by the crowd, and played his first full NHL game in nearly 11 months. He played 32 games before he was again injured, this time by a teammate's slap shot, which broke his left hand.

Los Angeles Kings

Williams with the Kings in 2009.

On March 5, 2009, Williams was traded by the Hurricanes to the Los Angeles Kings for Patrick O'Sullivan and the Calgary Flames' second round draft pick.^[6]

On February 28, 2011, Williams signed a four-year, $14.6 million extension with the Los Angeles Kings.^[7] He scored 15 points in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, helping the Kings win their first NHL title.

During the 2012–13 season, Williams scored 11 goals with 22 assists, as the Kings would ultimately lose to the eventual Stanley Cup champions Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Williams won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, where he won his third Stanley Cup and second with the Kings. He scored nine goals and 15 assists during the playoffs, including the game-winning goal in Game 1 the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Rangers, and the Kings' first in the 3–2 comeback in Game 5 to win the Cup. Williams also had points in all three Game 7 matches the Kings had on the path to the Finals.^[8]

Washington Capitals

On July 1, 2015, Williams signed as a free agent to a two-year $6.25m contract with the Washington Capitals.^[9]

Return to Carolina

On July 1, 2017, Williams returned to the Carolina Hurricanes by signing a two year, $9 million deal. Upon his deal being signed, he stated that "I’m not coming in here to try and be Mr. Head Honcho," Williams said. "I’m just trying to come in and fit in and be myself. And I think that’s what Carolina wants." ^[10] On September 13, 2018, Williams was named captain of the Hurricanes.^[11]