Paul Cavallini (born November 13, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice‑hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1988 to 1999. He is noted for his physical style of play and accumulated a substantial number of penalty minutes during his career.
Early life and junior career
Cavallini was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He played major‑junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals, where he developed as a defensive‑oriented player.
Professional playing career
- Draft: Selected 91st overall in the fifth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals; however, he never appeared in an NHL game for Washington.
- Ottawa Senators (1992–1995): Cavallini made his NHL debut with the expansion Ottawa Senators, appearing in 47 games during the 1992‑93 season and becoming a regular on the blue line over the next two seasons.
- Boston Bruins (1994–1995): He was traded to Boston during the 1994‑95 season, where he contributed a modest offensive output while maintaining a physical presence.
- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–1999): Cavallini was claimed by the Mighty Ducks in the 1995 NHL Expansion Draft. He spent the remainder of his NHL career with Anaheim, playing a total of 278 regular‑season games for the franchise and registering 1 goal, 12 assists, 45 points, and 1,166 penalty minutes. He retired following the 1998‑99 season.
Throughout his NHL tenure, Cavallini was primarily utilized as a stay‑at‑home defenceman and penalty‑killer, valued for his size (6 ft 2 in, 210 lb) and willingness to engage in physical play.
Post‑playing career
After retiring as a player, Cavallini remained involved in hockey operations. He served as an assistant coach for the Mighty Ducks during the early 2000s and later held scouting or advisory roles within the organization. Specific details of his post‑playing positions are limited in publicly available sources.
Personal life
Publicly available information regarding Cavallini’s personal life, including family or off‑ice activities, is minimal, and no widely reported details are present in reliable encyclopedic references.
Legacy
Cavallini is remembered by fans of the early Anaheim Ducks teams for his rugged defensive play and leadership in the locker room. His career totals of over 1,100 penalty minutes reflect his role as an enforcer‑type defenceman during the era in which he played.