A fast skating defenseman, Al Iafrate went straight from junior hockey to the 1984 US Olympic team and then on to the NHL. He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, and #4 overall, of the 1984 NHL entry draft. Iafrate played for 14 years in the NHL (1984-98), starting with seven seasons with Toronto. He then played four years with the Washington Capitals, one with the Boston Bruins, and finished with two years with the San Jose Sharks. He played in 799 NHL games, playing in four NHL All-Star Games, and being named second-team All-NHL in 1993. He was known for skating speed and a rocket-like shot. In the middle of his final NHL season, he again played for the US at the 1998 World Championships.
United States