Playing career

Hackett grew up studying Patrick Roy and patterned his game after him. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft after playing in junior for the London Diamonds and the Oshawa Generals. Behind Billy Smith and Kelly Macarthy on the Islanders' goaltending depth chart, Hackett split his first two seasons with Minnesota and the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League. He led the Springfield Indians to a Calder Cup win in 1990 and was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy, annually given to the most valuable player of the playoffs.

The San Jose Sharks claimed him in the 1991 NHL Expansion Draft. During his first season in San Jose, Hackett was named team MVP for his play. However after winning only two games in 1992-93, one of them a Sharks' record 57 save effort against the Kings, Hackett was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks prior to 1993-94 and he backed up Ed Belfour for several seasons. His excellent play in 1996-97 allowed the Blackhawks to trade Belfour to San Jose mid-season. His only full season as Chicago's top goaltender, was highlighted by a career-high eight shutouts.

A month into the season, Hackett was involved in a six-player trade which sent him to the Montreal Canadiens. He quickly became a fan favorite in Montreal as he recorded career highs in games played (63) and wins (26). After another solid season in 1999-2000, Hackett was limited to fifteen games in 2000-01 and eighteen games in 2001-02 due to a shoulder injury and lost the starter's job to 2002 Vezina Trophy winner José Théodore in the process. This signaled the end of his stint with Montreal as mid-way through 2002-03 he was involved in a three-way trade which sent him back to San Jose temporarily and then on to the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins, who had been looking for a number one goaltender, threw Hackett into that role. After shutting out Philadelphia in his Boston debut, Hackett played well until a broken finger caused him to miss time including the start of the Bruins' playoff series with New Jersey, forcing Boston to go with Steve Shields.

During the off-season, Hackett signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on the first day of free agency. He started his Flyers career by posting two shutouts in his first two games, and accumulated a record of nine wins, two losses and six ties in his first seventeen games. However, in December, he lost six starts in a row and following a win in early January, lost his next two starts. He was diagnosed with vertigo on January 22 and after a one game rehab stint with the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms on February 6, Hackett retired on February 9, 2004. Hackett finished his career after appearing in 500 NHL regular season games.

Post-playing career

On July 12, 2006, Hackett was hired as the goaltending coach for the Colorado Avalanche. After three seasons in that role, Hackett was fired on June 3, 2009. Hackett now resides in his hometown of London, Ontario and has turned his attention to minor hockey. His nephew is NHL goaltender Matt Hackett.

Awards

• 1986-87 - F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy (OHL)
• 1986-87 - Dave Pinkney Trophy (OHL)
• 1989-90 - Jack A. Butterfield Trophy (AHL)

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
	—	1078 1984-85		London Diamonds	WOJBHL	18	—	—	73	1	4.06	—
1985-86	London Diamonds	WOJBHL		19	—	—	—	1150	66	0	3.44	—
1986-87	Oshawa Generals	OHL		31	18	9	2	1672	85	2	3.05	—
1987-88	Oshawa Generals	OHL		53	30	21	2	3165	205	0	3.89	—
1988-89	Springfield Indians	AHL		29	12	14	2	1677	116	0	4.15	.872
1988-89	New York Islanders	NHL		13	4	7	0	662	39	0	3.53	.881
1989-90	Springfield Indians	AHL		54	24	25	3	3045	187	1	3.68	.887
1990-91	New York Islanders	NHL		30	5	18	1	1508	91	0	3.62	.877
1991-92	San Jose Sharks	NHL		42	11	27	1	2314	148	0	3.84	.892
1992-93	San Jose Sharks	NHL		36	2	30	1	2000	176	0	5.28	.856
1993-94	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		22	2	12	3	1084	62	0	3.43	.890
1994-95	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		7	1	3	2	328	13	0	2.38	.913
1995-96	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		35	18	11	4	2000	80	4	2.40	.916
1996-97	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		41	19	18	4	2473	89	2	2.16	.927
1997-98	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		58	21	25	11	3441	126	8	2.20	.917
1998-99	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		10	2	6	1	524	33	0	3.78	.871
1998-99	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		53	24	20	9	3091	117	5	2.27	.914
1999-00	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		56	23	25	7	3301	132	3	2.40	.914
2000-01	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		19	4	10	2	998	54	0	3.25	.887
2001-02	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		15	5	5	2	717	38	0	3.18	.904
2002-03	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		18	7	8	2	1063	45	0	2.54	.926
2002-03	Boston Bruins	NHL		18	8	9	0	991	53	1	3.21	.894
2003-04	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		27	10	10	6	1630	65	3	2.39	.905
2003-04	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		1	1	0	0	60	2	0	2.00	.889
NHL totals				500	166	244	56	28125	1361	26	2.90	.902

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1986-87	Oshawa Generals	OHL		15	8	7	895	40	0	2.68	—
1986-87	Oshawa Generals	M-Cup		3	2	1	180	12	0	4.00	—
1987-88	Oshawa Generals	OHL		7	3	4	438	31	0	4.24	—
1989-90	Springfield Indians	AHL		17	10	5	934	60	0	3.85	—
1994-95	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		2	0	0	26	1	0	2.30	.917
1995-96	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		1	0	1	60	5	0	5.00	.865
1996-97	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		6	2	4	345	25	0	4.34	.884
2002-03	Boston Bruins	NHL		3	1	2	179	5	0	1.67	.934
NHL totals				12	3	7	610	36	0	3.54	.894

International

Year	Team	Event			GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1998	Canada	WC			2	0	1	1	120	9	0	4.50	—
Senior int'l totals					2	0	1	1	120	9	0	4.50	—

[ Source: Wikipedia ]