Donald Richard Lever (born November 14, 1952) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1972âÂÂ73 until 1986âÂÂ87. He notably helped the Calgary Flames reach the NHL playoff semifinals for the first time in club history in 1981.
Lever was drafted 3rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. The forward reached the 20-goal mark six times in Vancouver and played for Canada at the 1978 World Championships. Lever was traded to the Atlanta Flames alongside Brad Smith in exchange for Ivan Boldirev and Darcy Rota on February 8, 1980. He was later the first captain of the New Jersey Devils. Lever scored the first goal in Devils' history. He was recognized for both his penalty killing and powerplay abilities. Lever played 1020 career NHL games, scoring 313 goals and 367 assists for 680 points. On March 9, 2009, Lever was named an assistant coach for the Montreal Canadiens by Bob Gainey after the firing of Guy Carbonneau. His contract was not renewed, and he was named head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the AHL on October 21, 2009.
Season Team Lge Type GP W L T OTL Pct Result 1987âÂÂ88 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant coach 1988âÂÂ89 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant coach 1990âÂÂ91 Rochester Americans AHL Head coach 80 45 26 9 0 0.619 Lost in finals 1991âÂÂ92 Rochester Americans AHL Head coach 80 37 31 12 0 0.537 Lost in round 3 1992âÂÂ93 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant coach 1993âÂÂ94 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant coach 1994âÂÂ95 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant coach 1995âÂÂ96 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate coach 1996âÂÂ97 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant coach 1997âÂÂ98 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate coach 1998âÂÂ99 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate coach 1999âÂÂ00 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate coach 2000âÂÂ01 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant coach 2001âÂÂ02 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant coach 2002âÂÂ03 St. Louis Blues NHL Assistant coach 2003âÂÂ04 St. Louis Blues NHL Assistant coach 2005âÂÂ06 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head coach 80 35 41 0 4 0.463 Out of playoffs 2006âÂÂ07 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head coach 80 43 28 0 9 0.594 Won championship 2007âÂÂ08 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head coach 80 36 34 0 10 0.512 Out of playoffs 2008âÂÂ09 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head coach 65 39 24 0 2 0.615 2008âÂÂ09 Montreal Canadiens NHL Assistant coach
Lever and his wife Karen have three children, Michael, Sarah, and Caitlin.