Erik Christensen
A skilled playmaking center whose NHL journey was highlighted by a sublime shootout move that became his lasting signature.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: December 17·Millennials
Biography
Erik Christensen possessed the kind of silky hands and creative vision that made coaches dream, carving a path to the NHL through Canadian junior hockey and a standout performance at the 2003 World Juniors. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, he showed flashes of high-end skill, particularly in the shootout, where his 'Forsberg-esque' move became a thing of beauty and reliability. His career, however, became a narrative of untapped potential and constant movement, as he was traded multiple times, playing for six NHL clubs. Despite putting up respectable numbers, he struggled to find a permanent home in a top-six role, his journey reflecting the precarious nature of a skill player in a league demanding consistency. He later extended his career in Europe, playing in Switzerland and Sweden, before retiring as a player whose talent was never in question, even if his ultimate NHL impact remained elusive.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Erik was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Erik Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Erik's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded a career-high 33 points in the 2006-07 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, showcasing his playmaking ability.
- Gained notoriety for his exceptional shootout prowess, finishing his NHL career with a 52.9% success rate (18 goals on 34 attempts).
- Represented Canada at the 2003 World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal.
Did You Know?
He scored his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot.
Christensen was part of the trade that sent Marian Hossa from Atlanta to Pittsburgh in 2008.
He is known for popularizing a specific shootout deke, a slow move to the backhand, that was often compared to Peter Forsberg's famous technique.
“A perfect shootout move is a quiet conversation between you and the puck.”
