"Rhodes gave the Senators some fine goaltending after joining them from the Maple Leafs via trade in January. His arrival, coupled with [Sens coach Jacques] Martin's emphasis on defense, resulted in the team allowing about one goal fewer per game over the final half of the season. (The Sporting News Hockey Yearbook 1996-97, p. 52)

"Rhodes' confidence is now below the frost line, so he's got work to do if he's to regain the No. 1 spot. (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 95)

"Rhodes has to prove again that he can be a No. 1 goaltender...Clearly, if Rhodes doesn't prove he's ready and totally recovered, then a trade for help remains a possibility. (The Hockey News 1997-98 Yearbook, p. 143)

"After Rhodes was acquired from Toronto in 1996 and played so well, it seemed like the Sens would have no goaltending concerns for the next millenium. Then the fourth-year netminder struggled and lost his No. 1 job to Ron Tugnutt near the end of an injury-riddled season." (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 98)

"He's a bigger goalie than a lot of guys and likes to stay in the net. When he arrived in Ottawa he was more tentative. But he didn't have any pressure on him and he played well for them this year. Now, he's going to be their playoff goalie, I think. (Alexandre Daigle, ESPN Sportszone, April 1998)

"Rhodes had a decent season in Ottawa, splitting dutires with Ron Tugnutt. Statistically, Rhodes wasn't as good as he was a year ago. He did, however, score a goal. A stand-up goaltender that has yet to prove himself as a No. 1. Still, Ottawa coach Jacques Martin favored him over Tugnutt in the playoffs. Rhodes, a Minnesotan, liked playing in Canada and this will be an adjustment for him. When Atlanta was unable to lasso Roman Turek from Dallas in the expansion draft (Dallas traded Turek to St. Louis), Rhodes became the odds-on favorite to become the starter." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 125)

"An aggressive goaltender who makes the first save. Unfortunately, the former Senator managed to play in only 28 games last season because of an ankle injury. Despite a solid showing while in Ottawa, many observers doubt that Rhodes has what it takes to be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL. Their thinking is that the Senators' stingy defense was the main factor in his success. Look for Rhodes to bounce back and hopefully prove his detractors wrong for the Thrashers' sake. (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 115)

"It looks as if the honeymoon is over between the Thrashers and their No. 1 goaltender. When Rhodes was acquired via trade just prior to the 1999 Expansion Draft, he was billed as the cornerstone player of the first-year squad. Two years later, Atlanta is once again searching for a starting netminder. Injuries and inconsistent play have hurt the 32-year-old Rhodes. Clearly, 12 wins in only 66 appearances over a two-year span is not what Trashers management had in mind when they acquired him. Moreover, this may have been Rhodes' last shot at a No. 1 role in the NHL. While Rhodes may be an ideal backup goalkeeper, his contract status says otherwise. Therefore, it would be a stunning turn of events should he play the entire 2001-02 season in Atlanta. (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 117)

"After suffering a torn groin muscle and pulled hamstring, the veteran goaltender had a washout campaign in 2001-02. Unpopular with the Thrashers fans for his lack of consistency, Rhodes has a lot to prove in training camp. (The Sports Forecaster 2002-03, p. 218)

• Selected by Toronto Maple Leafs in sixth round (sixth Maple Leafs pick, 112th overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 13, 1987.
• Traded by Maple Leafs (with LW Ken Belanger) to New York Islanders for LW Kirk Muller; traded by Islanders (with D Wade Redden) to Ottawa Senators for D Bryan Berard and C Martin Straka, January 23, 1996.
• Traded by Senators to Atlanta Thrashers for future considerations, June 18, 1999.

• Bruised calf; missed ten games, February 23, 1997.
• Suffered from the flu; missed one game, December 22, 1998.
• Sprained ankle; missed forty-nine games, November 17, 1999.
• Sprained knee; missed one game, October 30, 2000.
• Sprained right knee; missed eighteen games, November 4, 2000.
• Strained groin; missed sixteen games, February 25, 2001.

• On January 2, 1999, Damian became the first goaltender in National Hockey League history to score a goal in a shutout victory. With his Senators leading the New Jersey Devils by a 1-0 score, Rhodes was the last Senator to touch the puck before the Devils inadvertently shot it into their own net during a delayed penalty. With goaltender Martin Brodeur off for an extra attacker, defenseman Lyle Odelein tried to pass the puck back to the blue line, but it eluded teammates Scott Niedermayer and Dave Andreychuk and went the length of the ice to give Ottawa a 2-0 lead. Rhodes ended up with thirty saves in the 6-0 win.