Ronning, a 5-foot-8 center, didn't let his lack of size deter him from becoming one of the NHL's best playmakers and most consistent scorers in the 1990s and early 2000s. Though the native of Burnaby, British Columbia never reached the 30-goal mark, he scored at least 20 goals eight times, had seven seasons with at least 40 assists and 11 seasons with at least 50 points.

Although Ronning scored 151 and 136 points in back-to-back seasons with New Westminster of the Western Hockey League, NHL teams hesitated to draft him because of his size. The St. Louis Blues were able to wait until the seventh round (No. 134) of the 1984 NHL Draft to select Ronning; they sent him back to New Westminster, where he scored 89 goals and led the WHL with 197 points.

Ronning played the next 1 1/2 seasons for the Canadian National Team. He made his NHL debut with the Blues against the Minnesota North Stars in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 9, 1986. He had an assist in that game and scored his first goal against the Calgary Flames on May 12, 1986. Ronning ended his time with the Canadian national team midway through the 1986-87 season, signed with the Blues and scored his first three regular-season goals when he had a hat trick against the North Stars on Jan. 12, 1987.

Though Ronning started the 1988-89 season with Peoria of the International Hockey League, he was recalled in time to score 24 goals in 64 games for the Blues. He opted to play the 1989-90 season in Italy, returned to the Blues to start the 1990-91 season and was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on March 5, 1991.

Ronning had a breakout season with the Canucks in 1991-92, scoring 24 goals and 71 points, then set NHL career highs in goals (29), assists (56) and points (85) in 1992-93. He scored 25 goals and 68 points in 1993-94, then contributed five goals and 15 points in 24 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping the Canucks reach Game 7 of the Final before losing to the New York Rangers.

The Phoenix Coyotes signed Ronning in the summer of 1996 and he continued to produce until being traded to the Nashville Predators on Oct. 31, 1998. He had back-to-back 62-points seasons with the Predators in 1999-00 and 2000-01 and was on the way to breaking the 60-point mark again when the Predators traded him to the Los Angeles Kings on March 16, 2002. Ronning finished the season with the Kings, helped the Minnesota Wild advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 2002-03, then gave the New York Islanders' playoff push a boost in 2003-04 with nine goals and 24 points in 40 games before retiring.

Ronning finished his NHL career with 869 points (306 goals, 563 assists) in 1,137 NHL games, as well as 86 points (29 goals, 57 points) in 126 playoff games.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• BCJHL Coastal Division First All-Star Team (1983)
• WHL Rookie of the Year (1984)
• WHL West First All-Star Team (1985)
• WHL Player of the Year (1985)
• Traded to Vancouver by St. Louis with Geoff Courtnall, Robert Dirk, Sergio Momesso and St. Louis' 5th round pick (Brian Loney) in 1992 NHL Draft for Dan Quinn and Garth Butcher, March 5, 1991.
• Signed as a free agent by Phoenix, July 1, 1996.
• Traded to Nashville by Phoenix with Richard Lintner for future considerations, October 31, 1998.
• Traded to Los Angeles by Nashville for Jere Karalahti and Los Angeles' 4th round pick (Teemu Lassila) in 2003 NHL Draft, March 16, 2002.
• Traded to Minnesota by Los Angeles for Minnesota's 4th round pick (Aaron Rome) in 2002 NHL Draft, June 22, 2002.
• Signed as a free agent by NY Islanders, January 9, 2004.
• Officially announced his retirement, February 15, 2006.