Former Teammates, Coaches Reflect on Justin Williams’ Career

(Photo credit: LA Kings)

Mr. Game 7 has officially called it a career.

This past Thursday, Justin Williams announced his retirement after 19 NHL seasons and three Stanley Cups — two of which were with the Los Angeles Kings.

While he suited up for four different teams, there will always be something extra special about Williams’ tenure with the Kings. In addition to the aforementioned Cup victories, Williams was known for his strong sense of leadership and professionalism wherever he went, something which was especially paramount during his time in Los Angeles.

I recently had a chance to catch up with a few of the 39-year-old’s former Kings teammates and coaches about the veteran’s career. In the wake of their former teammate’s retirement announcement, they each took some time to share how they felt about Williams as a teammate and as a friend.

“Stick was the preeminent veteran, the cagey pro,” said Kevin Westgarth, who was teammates with Williams from 2009 to 2012. “He built his long career on his intangibles, and the 2012 Kings were huge beneficiaries of that.”

“His ability to talk to the young players, to interact with us as coaches and let us know what he saw on the ice and what he was thinking, but what was working and what wasn’t working,” added Jamie Kompon, who was one of Williams’ assistant coaches in Los Angeles, also from 2009 to 2012. “There’s a reason why Justin Williams and these superstar players are the best.”

“I think Justin is going to go down as one of the guys who had a storybook career,” added Peter DeBoer, who coached Williams at the major-junior level in the Ontario Hockey League.

Perplexed in Plymouth

As we look back on his professional career, it’s hard to believe that there were any doubts of Justin Williams playing at the professional level, let alone making it to the NHL. In the fall of 1998, however, that was just the case as an awkward-looking 16-year-old joined the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers, looking out of place when reporting to his new coach.

“What I remember was a skinny, underdeveloped kid that showed up to training camp,” DeBoer remembered. “He was a little bit awkward, 165-170 pounds, but he kept making plays. Every time he had the puck, he’d make a play.” 

While fans may not have gravitated towards him right away, there was something about Williams’ high level of resiliency that began to separate him from the pack, so to speak.

“Every time you thought about cutting him or sending him home, he did something that intrigued you, although his body hadn’t developed to the point where he could be effective at our level,” DeBoer continued. “So, we sent him to our tier-two team and just got better and better every time out.”

In his rookie OHL season of 1998-99, Williams suited up for 47 games for the Whalers, scoring four goals and 12 points. The native of Cobourg, Ont., though, would accelerate those totals in his sophomore campaign. En route to the Whalers march to the OHL Final, Williams scored 37 goals and 83 points.

“Coming into his second year, there were questions within the organizations about whether he was ready to be a regular,” DeBoer noted. “He put all those doubts to bed early in the season and became probably our best player.”

As for his leadership qualities, they were obvious to DeBoer right away.

“He was quiet and he was respectful until the puck dropped and then he was taking out prisoners,” the current Vegas Golden Knights bench boss said, laughing. “I remember him as an undersized guy in his first camp taking on a bigger guy in a scrap. I was worried for his safety but he handled himself. He always had that edginess to his game and that’s what you loved about him.”

An NHL Leader is Born

In 1998, he wasn’t selected in the OHL Draft until the sixth round. The wait was much shorter two years later as Justin Williams was selected 28th overall in the NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Even better, Williams made the veteran-laden squad right away, befriending a fellow Flyer youngster right off the bat.

“When Willie came in with the Flyers, I was the youngest player on the team,” recalled Simon Gagne, who had come off his own rookie season in 2000. “The Flyers were an older team, so I was really happy to have a guy closer to my age but, at the same time, the fit was perfect.”

Collecting 20 goals and 48 points as a rookie, Gagne wanted to better his totals as a sophomore. Partially thanks to having Williams as a linemate, Gagne did, coring 27 goals and 59 points in 69 games. As for the future Mr. Game 7, his rookie season was a promising one, scoring 12 goals and 13 assists in 63 games.

In regards to the friendship between Gagne and Williams, it is one that continues to this day.

“We got along really well right away,” Gagne continued. “He ended up being one of my best friends with the Flyers and from that point on.”

A Royal Tenure

At the 2009 Trade Deadline, the rebuilding Kings made, arguably, their most important acquisition, picking up Williams from the Carolina Hurricanes, sending 20-goal-scorer Patrick O’Sullivan to the Tar Heel State. Yet, while the veteran was coming off a severe Achilles injury that limited him to 37 games the previous season, William’s prowess superseded his injuries as far as the Kings were concerned. Among those impressed with Williams’ determination was Kings’ then-assistant coach Jamie Kompon.

“We knew that he was dedicated to coming back and it was a long process for him,” Kompon noted. “So, we knew we’d reap the benefits. Maybe not that year but in the upcoming years and that’s what we were excited about.”

It may have taken some time for Williams to return to 100-percent health but once he did, the rest was history.

“Boy, once he hit his stride once he got back, was he a heck of a hockey player,” beamed Kompon. “He definitely inspired a lot of guys around the room and he rallied a lot of guys around the room. He was the ultimate, ultimate competitive pro. The most important thing to him was to win. He would do anything to win and, while everyone competes in their own way, Justin, while not the biggest guy, went in the corners and knew that he was going to come out with that puck, and that was really important.”

Just months after acquiring Williams, the Kings had signed defensive specialist Rob Scuderi, who was fresh off helping the Pittsburgh Penguins end their 17-year Stanley Cup drought. The native of Syosset, N.Y., however, did admit that he and Williams found common ground in, among other things, one of the greatest sitcoms of all-time.

“Seinfeld was a common bonding theme,” an amused Scuderi reflected.

After a couple of first-round playoff exits, the Kings entered the 2011 off-season on a mission.

From acquiring Mike Richards to re-signing Drew Doughty, the silver-and-black were determined not only to get past the first round but to win hockey’s Holiest prize. A significant piece of that puzzle was acquired that summer when the Kings signed the aforementioned Simon Gagne.

Coming off his own playoff disappointments — losing in the Final in 2010 and in Game 7 of the East Final with Tampa Bay in 2011 — the former Quebec Rempart just wanted to win the Stanley Cup, and signed with the Kings at the behest of his old friend.

“I remember Willie giving me a call with Anze Kopitar at that time,” Gagne said. “They were together playing golf and they said, ‘Hey, come down to L.A. We’re going to win a Cup together,’ and it sounded pretty good even though it was a funny way to convince me to sign there.

“Looking at the Kings, I realized that, from my conversation with Willie and Anze, they were more serious than I thought. So, that was a big reason why I signed [with the Kings]: because of Justin.”

Doubt-Riddled Starts to Silver-Lined Finishes

While he had already won a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006, it was the quest for his second championship that solidified Justin Williams as a bona fide leader. While the season ended with the Kings winning their first Stanley Cup, the road to the top was anything but an easy one for Williams and company.

From a mid-season coaching change to having the NHL’s last-ranked offense to clinching a playoff spot on the final weekend, the Kings were never comfortable during the regular season. Less-experienced teams would have folded under the pressure. A Kings team which included the wily veteran Williams, though, not only held it together but thrived on having their backs to the wall.

“The biggest thing is that we were always pushing,” Kompon recalled. “There was never a panic about the playoffs. It was always only to worry about the next shift. It was always ingrained not to worry about the outcome but the process and his calming influence was important.”

“All through the long and winding season, through the ups and downs, he was a big part of our leadership group that kept us together, and ready to face any challenges once we made the playoffs,” added Westgarth.

For Williams, though, his experience alone wouldn’t suffice. It was all about saying the right things and instilling just the right amount of confidence for his teammates. The veteran needn’t have worried. From Jamie Kompon’s vantage point, Mr. Game 7 was always on point.

“Justin would talk in the room, he would speak up and say what’s on his mind but it was never in a derogatory or a negative way,” the current Winnipeg Jets assistant shared. “It was always about being positive, about getting the guys where they need to get to, to emotionally and mentally get to that spot. [Williams’ leadership] was huge for us and he complemented the other leaders on our team without stepping on anyone’s toes.

“It wasn’t like he had to do it. He wanted to do it and needed to do it because the timing of it was always the right time. That was really important.”

Added Rob Scuderi.

“11-’12 wasn’t the easiest season, but I thought Justin was good by being consistent on and off the ice,” the former Kings blueliner noted. “That doesn’t seem like a huge compliment, but when things aren’t going well as a team, you appreciate teammates that can stay level-headed and do their job during negative times because you know eventually things will turn if you have the right work ethic and attitude. Usually those guys are the ones that lead you out of the negative times of an NHL season.”

While he may not have played during the 2012 postseason, Kevin Westgarth was nonetheless instrumental in the Kings achieving their ultimate goal, helping out at critical points during the regular season. Along the way, though, he was witness to the value of Williams’ incomparable leadership.

“All through the long and winding season, through the ups and downs, he was a big part of our leadership group that kept us together and ready to face any challenges once we made the playoffs,” the Princeton alum recalled. “Luckily, we didn’t even need Mr Game 7’s heroics to stave off elimination, but he was a gamer night-in and night-out and clearly a critical part of winning the Cup.”

As for Peter DeBoer, one of the few times he and Williams’ paths crossed in the NHL was during the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.

Losing just twice in the first three rounds, the Kings had clinched their first Cup Final appearance since 1993. However, they were in tough against the New Jersey Devils, coached by none other than Mr. DeBoer.

In a hard-fought series, the Kings prevailed, defeating the Devils in six games.

While few things are more axiomatic than the angst and disappointment of losing in the Final, though, DeBoer held no reservations in taking solace knowing that his team’s defeat came at the hands of two of his most memorable junior proteges.

“The year we lost to L.A. in the Final, two of my favourite players I ever coached were on [the Kings]: Mike Richards (from the Kitchener Rangers) and Justin, both former captains of mine,” admitted DeBoer. “As tough as it is to lose, it makes it a little easier knowing that the guys you lost to are those types of men and that type of character. So, other than me hoisting [the Stanley Cup], I couldn’t have been happier for two other guys in the league than those two guys.”

Mr. Game 7’s Legacy

If the 2012 victory weren’t enough, Williams would help guide the Kings to another Stanley Cup in 2014, capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP en route. Unlike in 2012, though, the Kings had a tougher road in the 2014 playoffs, needing to win three Game 7’s — all on the road, no less — to get back to the Stanley Cup Final.

Williams would leave Los Angeles in 2015 to sign with the Washington Capitals. There, he helped shape a team who would win their first Stanley Cup in 2018. Mr. Game 7 would then return to Carolina, helping the Hurricanes regain their competitive edge while injecting a resurgence of popularity for hockey in North Carolina.

Now, as Williams hangs up his skates after 19 seasons, we look back on the veteran’s legacy.

“I think he’ll be remembered by his teammates and by his coaches as a person that had an impact on the lives of a lot of people,” said Jamie Kompon. “I’m very fortunate to call him a friend and the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup with him and to cherish his friendship along with our player-coach relationship.”

“I think Justin is going to go down as one of the guys who had a storybook career, but not in the way a first-overall pick has a storybook career,” Peter DeBoer added. “He earned everything he got. He worked for it and became an integral part of every team he played for and a great teammate. More importantly, from what I understand, he’s an even better husband and father, which doesn’t surprise me.”

Simon Gagne, who knew Williams as both a rookie and as a veteran, got to witness how his former teammate was during his playing career.

“You know what Willie will bring to the table,” the 40-year-old said matter-of-factly. “During the regular season, you know he’s not going to have the 70-, 80-point season or the point-per-game numbers but you know he’s going to be there consistently, 40, 50 points a season. But, as soon as you get to the playoffs, you know he’s going to elevate his game to another level that some players are not capable of doing.”

In 1264 games, Justin Williams scored 320 goals and 477 assists for 797 points. But, it was his 102 points in 162 career playoff games that will be further emphatic. This, coupled with his exceptional leadership skills, will warrant at least a few discussions about Williams’ chances of getting into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Until then, there’s plenty to be celebrated when looking back on Mr. Game 7’s career, especially when what he brought to the table resonated so well with those he played with.

“Stick’s preparation and leadership style are two things I’ve tried to keep with me during the rest of my hockey career, and now off the ice,” Kevin Westgarth noted. “Luck is when preparation meets execution, so Stick made himself ‘lucky’ year after year.”

His “Mr. Game 7” moniker was a well-earned one, to say the least.

Registering points in seven of the eight Game 7’s he suited up for in his NHL career, Justin Williams scored six goals and eight assists. When all was said and done, the veteran had three Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy to his name. But, his accomplishments on the scoresheet only scratch the surface of Williams’ illustrious career.

While it may not have been apparent early on in his junior career, Justin Williams evolved into a polished leader who made a lasting difference on his teammates and coaches — five of whom I had the pleasure of speaking with.

Whether he receives induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame or whether his number will be raised to any rafters remains to be seen. What cannot be argued, however, was the impact Justin Williams has left on each of the teams he played for. Using the Los Angeles Kings as an example, no fan of the silver-and-black can fondly reflect on their team’s championship success without thinking of Justin Williams — whom they love to this day, and for good reason.

What is likely the most memorable aspect of Justin Williams’ career, however, was his sheer desire to keep getting better both as a competitor and as a student of the game.

“He stayed on top because he works on his game and works at the little aspects to give him any bit of an advantage he can to get him over the top and keep him on top,” Kompon noted. “Justin was a prime example of that.

“It was always refreshing talking to Justin about hockey because there were so many different things that you learned from what he sees and his view as opposed to that of the coaches’.”

“Willie was always able to find another level,” Gagne added. “We all know that with his nickname, Mr. Game 7, he’d always have an impact on his team, no matter which team he played for. Whether it was an assist, a goal or a big play, Willie was going to be there. I think his legacy will be what he was capable of doing in the playoffs.”

“[Justin] rose to the occasion and got the job done especially when the lights were brightest,” added Scuderi. “A winner.”

While former members of the Kings family have nothing but the greatest things to say about the 39-year-old, it was the coach who was with Williams when it all began, awkwardness and all, whose respect for Mr. Game 7 resonates just as heavily today as it did 22 years ago.

“A great career and a toast to the player I remembered coming in as a 16-year-old and the one who I watched walk out after a 20-year career, and I couldn’t be prouder,” beamed DeBoer.

He was one of those players who was special for so many reasons. Whether or not you’re a fan of one of his teams, you’d be hard-pressed not to give Mr. Game 7 his due respect.

There may not have been many individual awards or scoring titles to his name but Justin Williams is the living embodiment that leadership, clutch play and humility are what makes up a very successful NHL career.

Whatever his next journey will be, may we all wish Justin Williams the absolute best. First, let us sincerely thank him for the memories — none of which were given but all of which were earned.

 

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