Vern Fiddler

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Lore & Background

Vern Fiddler's path to the NHL was unconventional. Undrafted, he worked his way through the minor leagues, playing the 2001–02 season with the Roanoke Express of the ECHL and the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. On May 6, 2002, Fiddler was signed by the Nashville Predators and assigned to affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals. He made his NHL debut with the Predators in November 2002, and played 19 NHL games during the 2002–03 season. In the 2003–04 season Fiddler helped the Admirals win the Calder Cup. Fiddler spent the next 2 years playing between the Predators and the Admirals before playing his first full NHL season in 2006–07. After playing 305 games for the Predators, Fiddler signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes on July 1, 2009.

In Their Own Story

On February 29, 2016, Fiddler played in his 800th regular season NHL game. Fiddler assisted on Dallas's first goal and later scored the tying goal with 1:31 left in the third period to send the game into overtime. Fiddler and the Stars would go on to lose 3-2 in overtime to the Detroit Red Wings. At the time, Fiddler was one of two active undrafted players who have played in 800 career NHL games, the other being Alexandre Burrows. Fiddler scored his 100th career NHL goal on March 4, 2016, as a member of the Dallas Stars. The empty net goal came in a win against the New Jersey Devils.

Reader's Guide

Vern Fiddler's NHL career spanned 877 games with 104 goals and 157 assists, for a total of 261 points. He played for the Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils. After five seasons with the Stars, Fiddler signed a one-year $1.25 million free agent contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 1, 2016. In the 2016–17 season, Fiddler struggled to find his offensive game as the Devils' fourth-line centre. Having contributed just 3 points in 39 games, he was traded by the Devils back to the Predators in exchange for a 4th-round pick in the 2017 draft on February 4, 2017. At the age of 37, Fiddler announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 in a Players Tribune article.

Did You Know?

• Fiddler recorded his first career NHL hat trick on November 12, 2010, against Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames.
• At the time of his 800th game, Fiddler was one of two active undrafted players to reach that milestone, the other being Alexandre Burrows.
• Fiddler is of Métis descent and, at the time of his retirement, was one of 9 NHL players with Native roots.
• Fiddler's son Blake was selected 36th overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2025 NHL entry draft.
• Fiddler helped the Milwaukee Admirals win the Calder Cup in the 2003–04 season.