Playing career

Drafted by the Hartford Whalers 36th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Sanderson made his NHL debut at the tail end of the 1990-91 season. After playing in 64 games in his first full season for the club in 1991-92, he registered career highs in goals (46), assists (43), and points (89) in 1992-93. Sanderson spent his first six NHL seasons with Hartford and played half a season with the franchise when they moved to Carolina. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in January 1998 and a little over a month later was sent to the Buffalo Sabres. He saw the most playoff action of his career during his three seasons with Buffalo, making it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998-99.

Left unprotected by Buffalo during the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft, Sanderson joined the Columbus Blue Jackets and scored 30-plus goals in 2000-01 and 2002-03. He was the first Blue Jacket to score a hat trick. He returned to Vancouver at the trade deadline in 2003-04 and was reclaimed by Columbus off waivers in the off-season which was a condition of the trade. Once the 2004-05 NHL lockout came to an end, Sanderson was traded two games into the 2005-06 season to the Phoenix Coyotes. After scoring 25 goals in 75 games with Phoenix, Sanderson signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in the off-season.

A disappointing year with Philadelphia resulted in Sanderson being traded to Edmonton with Joni Pitkanen in exchange for Joffrey Lupul and former Oilers captain Jason Smith. Sanderson scored two goals against Philadelphia the first time he played against his former team. Following the 2008 season, Edmonton declined to tender Sanderson a contract, ending his professional playing career.

Retirement

Sanderson accepted a Developmental Coaching and scouting role within the New York Islanders to begin the 2010-11 season. After his second season with the Islanders, Sanderson opted to step away from his position citing family reasons, and a similar lifestyle to his playing days. Sanderson formed and currently runs an Oil and Gas rental company, Breakaway Matting, alongside former teammate Brendan Morrison.

Personal

Sanderson is the only NHL player to have been raised in the Northwest Territories, a place in which he grew up while his father worked as a pharmacist in the now defunct town of Pine Point, Northwest Territories. As a teenager, he relocated with his family to Edmonton. Sanderson currently resides in Calgary, Alberta, with his wife and three children.

In 2013, Sanderson coached his oldest son Ben's peewee team, the Springbank Whalers of Calgary.

He has two cousins who have also played in the NHL: Wade Brookbank, who most recently played for the Rockford IceHogs and Sheldon Brookbank, who currently plays for Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1987-88	St. Albert Royals	AMHL		45	65	55	120	175		—	—	—	—	—
1988-89	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		58	17	11	28	16		12	3	5	8	6
1989-90	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		70	32	62	94	56		4	1	4	5	8
1990-91	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		70	62	50	112	57		3	1	2	3	4
1990-91	Hartford Whalers	NHL		2	1	0	1	0		3	0	0	0	0
1990-91	Springfield Indians	AHL		—	—	—	—	—		1	0	0	0	2
1991-92	Hartford Whalers	NHL		64	13	18	31	18		7	1	0	1	2
1992-93	Hartford Whalers	NHL		82	46	43	89	28		—	—	—	—	—
1993-94	Hartford Whalers	NHL		82	41	26	67	42		—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	HPK Hameenlinna	FNL		12	6	4	10	24		—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	Hartford Whalers	NHL		46	18	14	32	24		—	—	—	—	—
1995-96	Hartford Whalers	NHL		81	34	31	65	40		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Hartford Whalers	NHL		82	36	31	67	29		—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		40	7	10	17	14		—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		9	0	3	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		26	4	5	9	20		14	3	1	4	4
1998-99	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		75	12	18	30	22		19	4	6	10	14
1999-00	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		67	13	13	26	22		5	0	2	2	8
2000-01	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		68	30	26	56	46		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		42	11	5	16	12		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		82	34	33	67	34		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		67	13	16	29	34		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		13	3	4	7	4		7	1	1	2	4
2004-05	Genève-Servette HC	NLA		9	4	1	5	29		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		75	25	21	46	58		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		58	11	18	29	44		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		41	3	10	13	16		—	—	—	—	—
000NHL totals				1104	355	345	700	511		55	9	10	19	32

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing Canada
World Championships
	1994 Italy
	1997 Finland

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993	Canada	WC	4th		8	3	3	6	2
1994	Canada	WC	01 !		8	4	2	6	8
1997	Canada	WC	01 !		11	3	2	5	2
Senior totals					27	10	7	17	12

Awards and honours

Award	Year
CHL
WHL Champions (Swift Current Broncos)	1989
Memorial Cup	1989
AHL
Calder Cup (Springfield Indians)	1991
NHL
All-Star Game	1994, 1997

[ Source: Wikipedia ]