Craig Richard Billington (born September 11, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played with several teams in a 15-year National Hockey League career, always known as "Biller," and serves as an assistant general manager for the Colorado Avalanche, and the General Manager of the American Hockey League Colorado Eagles.
As a youth, Billington played in the 1979 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Stoneybrook in London, Ontario.
He played high school hockey at A.B. Lucas SS. He played junior B hockey for the London Chester Pegg Diamonds in the Western Junior B. OHA. He was drafted by the Belleville Bulls in the fourth round, 51st overall in the 1983 OHL Priority Draft.
Billington joined the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League for the 1983âÂÂ84 season. In his rookie season, Billington appeared in 44 games, earning a record of 20âÂÂ19âÂÂ0 with a 4.16 GAA. In one post-season game, Billington had a GAA of 6.00 as the Bulls lost to the Oshawa Generals in the Leyden Division quarter-finals.
Billington returned to Belleville for the 1984âÂÂ85 season. In 47 games, Billington earned a record of 26âÂÂ19âÂÂ0 with a 4.25 GAA, helping the Bulls finish second in the Leyden Division. In the playoffs, Billington posted a GAA of 2.71 in 14 games, as the Bulls lost to the Peterborough Petes in the Leyden Division finals. Following the season, Billington was named the winner of the Bobby Smith Trophy, awarded to the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year. Billington was also named to the OHL First All-Star Team.
In 1985âÂÂ86, Billington returned to the Bulls late in the season after spending most of the year with the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. In three regular season games, Billington had a 2âÂÂ1âÂÂ0 record with a 3.67 GAA and a .893 save percentage. Billington's return to the Bulls provided a boost in the post-season, as in 20 games, Billington posted a GAA of 3.60, leading Belleville to the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals. In the final round, the Bulls lost four games to two to the Guelph Platers.
Billington was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 23rd overall at the 1984 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. Billington was the first goaltender selected in the draft.
The Devils assigned Billington to his junior club, the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League for the 1984âÂÂ85 season.
Billington began the 1985âÂÂ86 season with New Jersey. On October 26, 1985, Billington made his NHL debut, as he made 23 saves in a 5âÂÂ2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. In 18 games with the Devils during the season, Billington had a 4âÂÂ9âÂÂ1 record with a 5.14 GAA and a .840 save percentage. Late in the season, Billington was assigned to his junior club in Belleville in an effort to get him more playing time.
Billington split the 1986âÂÂ87 season between the Devils and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Maine Mariners. In 20 games with the Mariners during the 1986âÂÂ87 season, Billington earned a record of 9âÂÂ7âÂÂ2 with a 3.65 GAA and a .873 save percentage. With the Devils, Billington played in 22 games, posting a record of 4âÂÂ13âÂÂ2 with a 4.79 GAA and a .844 save percentage.
In 1987âÂÂ88, the Devils assigned Billington to their new AHL affiliate, the Utica Devils. In 59 games with Utica, Billington had a 22âÂÂ27âÂÂ8 record with a 3.67 GAA and a .880 save percentage.
Billington spent a majority of the 1988âÂÂ89 season with Utica of the AHL. In 41 games, Billington had a record of 17âÂÂ18âÂÂ6 with a 3.70 GAA and a .872 save percentage with the club. In four post-season games, Billington posted a 1âÂÂ3 record with a 4.91 GAA. Billington briefly appeared with New Jersey during the 1988âÂÂ89 season. In three games with the Devils, Billington earned a record of 1âÂÂ1âÂÂ0 with a 4.71 GAA and a .830 save percentage.
Billington remained with Utica for the 1989âÂÂ90 season. In 38 games, Billington earned a 20âÂÂ13âÂÂ1 record with a 3.97 GAA and a .870 save percentage. Billington did not appear in any post-season games for Utica in the 1990 playoffs.
In 1990âÂÂ91, the Devils allowed Billington to play with the Canadian National Team. In 34 games with Team Canada, Billington posted a 17âÂÂ14âÂÂ2 record with a 3.15 GAA.
Billington returned to New Jersey in 1991âÂÂ92. He remained in the NHL for the entire season for the first time in his career. On December 28, 1991, Billington stopped all 26 shots he faced in a 3âÂÂ0 win over the Buffalo Sabres for his first career shutout. In a back-up role, Billington earned a 13âÂÂ7âÂÂ1 record with a team best 3.04 GAA and .892 save percentage. Billington also led the Devils with two shutouts. In the 1992 NHL playoffs, Billington did not see any playing time.
In the 1992âÂÂ93 season, Billington split his playing time with Chris Terreri. In 42 games, Billington had a team high 21 victories, as he earned a record of 21âÂÂ16âÂÂ4 with a 3.67 GAA and a .876 save percentage. On April 20, 1993, Billington played in his first career NHL playoff game, as he made three saves on four shots in relief of Terreri in a 7âÂÂ0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. On April 22, Billington made his first career NHL playoff start, as he stopped 31 shots in a 4âÂÂ3 loss to the Penguins. Overall, in two playoff games, Billington had a 0âÂÂ1 record with a 3.83 GAA and a .872 save percentage.
On June 20, 1993, the Devils traded Billington, Troy Mallette, and a fourth round draft pick at the 1993 NHL Entry Draft to the Ottawa Senators for Peter Sidorkiewicz and future considerations.
Billington was named the starting goaltender for the Ottawa Senators after being acquired by the club during the off-season. On October 6, 1993, Billington made his Senators debut, making 26 saves in a 5âÂÂ5 tie with the Quebec Nordiques. After starting the season 0âÂÂ4âÂÂ1, Billington earned his first victory with Ottawa on October 25, as he made 23 saves in a 4âÂÂ1 win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. During the 1993âÂÂ94 season, Billington earned a record of 11âÂÂ41âÂÂ4 record with a 4.59 GAA and a .859 save percentage in 63 games.
Billington returned to the Senators in 1994âÂÂ95, backing up Don Beaupre, whom the Senators had acquired prior to the season. In nine games with Ottawa, Billington had a 0âÂÂ6âÂÂ2 record with a 4.07 GAA and a .867 save percentage.
On April 7, 1995, the Senators traded Billington to the Boston Bruins for an eighth round draft pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.
Billington finished the 1994âÂÂ95 backing up goaltender Blaine Lacher with the Boston Bruins. On April 9, 1995, Billington made his Bruins debut, making 22 saves in a 6âÂÂ5 win over the Buffalo Sabres to earn his first victory of the season, after going 0âÂÂ6âÂÂ2 with Ottawa. In eight games with Boston, Billington had a 5âÂÂ1âÂÂ0 record with a 3.05 GAA and a .864 save percentage. Billington appeared in one playoff game during the 1995 playoffs, going 0âÂÂ0 with a 2.40 GAA and a .900 save percentage.
Billington returned to the Bruins for the 1995âÂÂ96 season. In 27 games, Billington posted a 10âÂÂ13âÂÂ3 with a 3.44 GAA and a .867 save percentage. In the 1996 playoffs, Billington made one start, allowing six goals in a 6âÂÂ2 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Billington signed with the Florida Panthers on September 5, 1996. After attending camp with the Panthers, he was made available for the 1996 NHL Waiver Draft. On September 30, 1996, the Colorado Avalanche selected Billington.
On October 17, Billington made his Avalanche debut, making 30 saves in a 2âÂÂ1 loss to the Florida Panthers. In his next start, on October 28, Billington stopped all 40 shots he faced in a 1âÂÂ0 victory over the Washington Capitals for his first win with the Avalanche. In 23 games with Colorado during the 1996âÂÂ97 season, Billington was 11âÂÂ8âÂÂ2 with a 2.65 GAA and a .909 save percentage. In one post-season game, Billington played 20 minutes, as he had a 0âÂÂ0 record with a 3.00 GAA and a .923 save percentage.
Billington returned to Colorado for the 1997âÂÂ98 season. In 23 games, Billington posted a 8âÂÂ7âÂÂ4 record with a 2.32 GAA and a .923 save percentage. In the 1998 post-season, Billington saw one minute of action.
In 1998âÂÂ99, Billington had a record of 11âÂÂ8âÂÂ1 with a 2.87 GAA and a .894 save percentage in 21 games. In the 1999 playoffs, Billington appeared in one game, playing nine minutes. He had a 0âÂÂ0 record with a 6.68 GAA and a .833 save percentage.
On July 16, 1999, the Avalanche traded Billington to the Washington Capitals for future considerations.
Billington made his debut with the Washington Capitals on October 19, 1999, as he played the third period against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in relief of starting goalie Olaf Kolzig. In 20 minutes of playing time, Billington made three saves on six shots in a 7âÂÂ1 loss. On October 31, Billington made his first start with the Capitals, making 20 saves in a 2âÂÂ1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. In his next start, on November 20, Billington stopped all 28 shots he faced in a 3âÂÂ0 victory over the Boston Bruins for his first win as a member of the Capitals. In 13 games during the 1999âÂÂ2000 season, Billington had a 3âÂÂ6âÂÂ1 record with a 2.75 GAA and a .910 save percentage. In one playoff appearance during the 2000 playoffs, Billington allowed a goal in 20 minutes of playing time, as he had a 0âÂÂ0 record with a 3.00 GAA and a .833 save percentage.
Billington appeared in 12 games with the Capitals during the 2000âÂÂ01 season, earning a 3âÂÂ5âÂÂ2 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
Billington continued his back-up duties during the 2001âÂÂ02 season with the Capitals. In 17 games, Billington had a 4âÂÂ5âÂÂ3 record with a 3.04 GAA and a .878 save percentage.
In the 2002âÂÂ03, Billington saw limited playing time. In six games, he posted a record of 1âÂÂ3âÂÂ1 with a 4.70 GAA and a .823 save percentage. On January 7, 2003, Billington announced his retirement.
Upon his retirement, Billington joined the Colorado Avalanche's staff, eventually working up to an assistant general manager position in 2009. In the 2016âÂÂ17 season, he was named the general manager of the Avalanche's American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. The following season, he held the same position with the Avalanche's new affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.