Playing career

Early years/Boston Bruins

Prior to entering the junior hockey ranks, Raycroft grew up playing minor hockey with the Quinte Red Devils AAA system in the Eastern Ontario AAA League of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA). In 1997-98, he began a three-year career in the Ontario Hockey League, playing for the Kingston Frontenacs and Sudbury Wolves. He also played junior for the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OPJAHL).

Raycroft was drafted 135th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in 2000-01 with the Bruins, replacing Byron Dafoe in a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. As a late-game replacement, however, he was not given the decision. Raycroft recorded his first NHL win two days later on October 9 in a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Raycroft played 11 games total for the Bruins in his first season, while playing the majority of his first three professional seasons with the team's minor league affiliate, the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL).

After the Bruins renewed his contract on July 31, 2003, Raycroft played his first full NHL season in 2003-2004, compiling a 29-18-9 record with a 2.05 goals against average (GAA), .926 save percentage and three shutouts. He helped lead the Bruins to a second-place finish in the regular season in the Eastern Conference en route to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Not having played enough games to qualify as a rookie in his previous three NHL seasons, Raycroft was awarded the Calder Trophy in 2004, as league rookie of the year.

Due to the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Raycroft signed with Djurgården of the Swedish Elitserien on November 6, 2004. He did not, however, play any games for the team and signed with Tappara Tampere of the Finnish SM-liiga several months later on January 17, 2005. When NHL play resumed, he struggled with the Boston Bruins in the 2005-06 season, managing only eight wins, while being a healthy scratch for the majority of the season. He was demoted to the Bruins' third-string position to starter Tim Thomas and rookie backup Hannu Toivonen.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The following off-season, on June 24, 2006, Raycroft was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the rights to Finnish goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask. It was later revealed that the Bruins intended to release him, which would have made him available to Toronto without any compensation at all. He began playing for the Maple Leafs in the 2006-07 season and earned his first shutout and win as a Leaf in a 6-0 victory against the Ottawa Senators on October 5, 2006. On April 3, 2007, Raycroft tied the Leafs' franchise record for most wins by a goaltender in the regular season (37), previously held by Ed Belfour in 2002-03 (Raycroft played more games than Belfour and earned three shootout wins, which did not exist prior to the 2005-06 season). Despite this record, he finished 49th in GAA and 56th in save percentage as the Leafs failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Raycroft struggled at the start of the 2007-08 season and surrendered the starting position to Vesa Toskala. The Leafs then placed him on waivers on June 24, 2008, and bought out the remainder of his contract on June 27.

Colorado Avalanche

Several days after being bought out by the Maple Leafs, on July 1, he signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. Despite being brought in to back up Peter Budaj, Raycroft started the 2008-09 season strong, becoming only the second Avalanche goalie to begin a season with a 9-1 record. In 31 games with the Avalanche, Raycroft posted a 12-16-0 record with a 3.14 GAA.

Vancouver Canucks

On July 6, 2009, Raycroft signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He earned the backup position behind Roberto Luongo after competing with prospect Cory Schneider during training camp. He recorded his first win with the Canucks in his first start on October 29 in a 2-1 shootout win against the Los Angeles Kings after Luongo was sidelined with a fractured rib. Raycroft faced his former Avalanche teammates several days later on November 1 and recorded his first shutout as a Canuck in a 3-0 win. Raycroft also won his 100th career game on February 12, 2010 in a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 4-3 win.

Dallas Stars

On July 1, 2010, Raycroft left the Canucks as a free agent and signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Stars. He compiled an 8-5 record with a 2.83 goals against average in his first season in Dallas, backing up Stars starter Kari Lehtonen.

On December 29, 2011, Raycroft was assigned to the Texas Stars, the Dallas Stars' AHL affiliate. Richard Bachman replaced Raycroft as backup to the Stars starter Kari Lehtonen. He played in the minors for the remainder of his contract.

Europe

On July 3, 2012, with little NHL interest and an impending lockout on the horizon, Raycroft left his North American career to begin a new venture in Europe by signing to a one-year deal with Italian Serie A club, Milano Rossoblu. The Italian team has been in proposed talks to join the Kontinental Hockey League.

On July 15, 2013 it was announced that he'll be playing with IF Björklöven for the 2013-14 season.

On April 9, 2014, Raycroft announced his retirement from professional hockey. He has since joined the Connecticut Huskies men's ice hockey as a volunteer assistant coach.

Career statistics

				Regular season											Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1997-98	Sudbury Wolves	OHL		33	8	16	5	—	1802	125	0	4.16	.890		2	0	1	89	8	0	5.39
1998-99	Sudbury Wolves	OHL		45	17	22	5	—	2528	173	1	4.11	.897		3	0	2	96	13	0	8.12	.812
1999-00	Kingston Frontenacs	OHL		61	33	20	5	—	3340	191	0	3.43	.918		5	1	4	300	21	0	4.20	.897
2000-01	Providence Bruins	AHL		26	8	14	4	—	1459	82	1	3.37	.891		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Boston Bruins	NHL		15	4	6	0	—	649	32	0	2.96	.890		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Providence Bruins	AHL		56	25	24	6	—	3317	142	7	2.57	.916		2	0	2	119	5	0	2.52	.904
2001-02	Boston Bruins	NHL		1	0	0	1	—	65	3	0	2.77	.897		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Providence Bruins	AHL		39	23	10	3	—	2255	94	1	2.50	.917		4	1	3	264	6	1	1.36	.955
2002-03	Boston Bruins	NHL		5	2	3	0	—	300	12	0	2.40	.918		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Boston Bruins	NHL		57	29	18	9	—	3420	117	3	2.05	.926		7	3	4	447	16	1	2.15	.924
2004-05	Tappara	SM-l		11	4	5	2	—	657	32	1	2.92	.912		3	0	2	104	11	0	6.34	.847
2005-06	Providence Bruins	AHL		1	1	0	—	0	64	3	0	2.81	.870		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Boston Bruins	NHL		30	8	19	—	2	1619	100	0	3.70	.879		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		72	37	25	—	9	4108	205	2	2.99	.894		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		19	2	9	—	5	964	63	1	3.92	.876		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		31	12	16	—	0	1722	90	0	3.14	.892		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		21	9	5	—	1	967	39	1	2.42	.911		1	0	0	25	1	0	2.40	.857
2010-11	Dallas Stars	NHL		19	8	5	—	0	847	40	2	2.83	.910		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011-12	Dallas Stars	NHL		10	2	8	—	0	529	31	0	3.52	.898		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011-12	Texas Stars	AHL		21	9	10	—	1	1157	61	0	3.16	.891		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	Milano Rossoblu	ITL		42	20	22	—	0	2542	114	5	2.69	.918		6	2	4	296	18	0	3.66	.915
2013-14	IF Björklöven	Swe.1		41	16	24	—	0	2335	112	3	2.88	.896		10	6	4	610	22	1	2.16	.909
NHL totals				280	113	114	10	17	15192	732	9	2.89	.900		8	3	4	472	17	1	2.16	.922

Awards

OHL

• Named to the First All-Star Team in 1999-2000.
• Named the OHL Goaltender of the Year in 1999-2000.
• Won the Red Tilson Trophy in 1999-2000.

CHL

• Named to the First All-Star Team in 1999-2000.
• Named CHL Goaltender of the Year in 1999-2000.

NHL

• Played in the NHL YoungStars Game in 2003-04.
• Won the Calder Trophy in 2003-04.
• Named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2003-04.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]