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| 1984 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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Kirk Muller
Selected in first round
No.
2 overall by New Jersey Devils
Born February
8, 1966
 | Position:
Center
Height: 6-0 Weight: 185
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Guelph (OHL)
Birthplace:
Kingston, Ontario (Canada)
Hometown: Kingston, Ontario |
 |
 |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1980-81 |
Kingston | Jr. B |
42 | 17 |
37 | 54 |
5 | | |
Kingston | OMJHL |
2 | 0 |
0 | 0 |
0 | | 1981-82 |
Kingston | OHL |
67 | 12 |
39 | 51 |
27 | | 1982-83 |
Guelph | OHL |
66 | 52 |
60 | 112 |
41 | | 1983-84 |
Guelph | OHL |
49 | 31 |
63 | 94 |
27 | | |
Team Canada | Int'l |
21 | 4 |
3 | 7 |
16 |
|
PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
Olympics: 1984 (fourth place)
World Junior Championships: 1984 (fourth place)
OHL Hanley Trophy (Most Gentlemanly): 1982-83 (Guelph)
OHL Ferguson Award (Top Draft Pick): 1982 (Guelph)
OHL All-Star Third Team: 1982-83, 1983-84 (Guelph)
Guelph Captain: 1983-84
Kingston Jr. B Captain: 1980-81
Guelph Records: Most assists in one game (5 vs. North Bay on FEb. 24,
1984, shares record)
Miscellaneous: Ranked by NHL Central Scouting Bureau as No. 2 overall
prospect for the 1984 NHL draft. ... Rated in The Hockey News draft preview issue as
No. 2 forward prospect for the 1984 NHL draft. ... Played on line with Dave
Gagner for Team Canada in 1983-84. ... Played for Canada in 1984 Olympics
after having played in 1984 World Junior Championships. As a result, Muller,
Dave Gagner, Russ Courtnall and J.J. Daigneault became the first Canadian
players to compete in the World Junior Championships and the Olympics in the
same year. ... Voted smartest player in OHL by a poll of league coaches in 1983-84. ... Was Guelph's first-round pick,
No. 1 overall, in 1982 OHL priority selection after having spent entire
1981-82 season in OHL with his local Kingston team, where he was eligible to
play as an underager. ... Grew up idolizing Bobby Clarke. ... Attended
Bayridge Secondary School in Kingston, Ontario.
Olympic Dispute: Early in the 1983-84
season, Muller became the focus of a fight between the Canadian Olympic team
and the Guelph Platers, who did not want Muller to participate in the
Olympics. Guelph owner Joe Holody initially denied Team Canada's request
that Muller come to Calgary and train with the Olympic team. Holody, who had
paid $300,000 to bring Guelph into the OHL just over a year earlier, argued
that the loss of his star would do irreparable financial damage to the
Platers. OHL commissioner Dave Branch said the league was prepared to
let anyone join the Olympic program, but wanted to be sure that Olympic
participation would still be fair to the player's OHL team. Branch did not
like the idea of an indefinite commitment from OHL players and felt the
Olympic team needed to give a time frame for returning young players who
were unlikely to play in the 1984 Olympics. Branch was angry that the
Olympic team was attempting to negotiate release with players' agents and
not team owners. Holody, meanwhile, ripped the Olympic program for waiting
until the last minute to raid the OHL and asked Muller not to go to Calgary,
even though he really wanted to go. A bitter negotiation finally ended when
the Platers and the OHL agreed to release Muller to the Olympic team on Jan.
5, 1984, for a four-game tryout. If the Olympic team wanted him after those
four games, he would be allowed to remain with the team through the Olympics
before returning to the OHL. As a result, Muller, the youngest member of the
1984 Canadian Olympic hockey team, got his chance to play in
the Sarajevo Winter Olympics just after his 18th birthday, but the pre-OIympic
strife was tough on him, and undoubtedly affected his play throughout the
1983-84 season. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: October 12, 1984 (N.Y. Islanders at
New Jersey)
Numbers: 27, 9 (New Jersey); 11
(Montreal); 9 (N.Y. Islanders);
21 (Toronto); 9 (Florida); 22 (Dallas)
Stanley Cup: 1993.
Playing Status:
Retired September 2, 2003 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS | | Years |
Teams | GP |
G | A |
TP | PIM | |
1984-2003 | N.J., Montreal, NYI,
Tor., Florida, Dallas | 1,349 |
357 | 602 |
959 | 1,223 |
|
| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1970-1976 |
New Jersey, Mont.,
Toronto, Florida, Dal. | 127 |
33 | 36 |
69 | 153 |
|
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
All-Star Game: 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990 (N.J.), 1992, 1993 (Montreal)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 2000
(Dallas)
New Jersey MVP (Media Vote): 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88
New
Jersey Players' Player Award: 1987-88
New Jersey Fan Club Player
of Year: 1984-85
New Jersey SportsChannel Most Valuable Devil:
1986-87
New Jersey Captain: June
18, 1987, until Sept. 20, 1991
Montreal Molson Cup (Three-Stars Leader): 1992-93
Montreal Captain: Aug. 30, 1994, until April 5, 1995
Dallas
Most Improved Player: 2001-02
New Jersey Records: Most points in one game (6 at Pittsburgh on Oct.
29, 1986), most assists in one game (5 at N.Y. Rangers on March 25, 1987,
shares record), most assists by a center in one season (57 in 1987-88), most
total points in back-to-back games (8 on March 6-8, 1986, vs. Detroit and
Philadelphia; 8 on Oct. 29-30, 1986, at Pittsburgh and vs. N.Y. Islanders,
shares record), most power-play points in one season (37 in 1987-88),
fastest goal from the start of a game (8 seconds vs. St. Louis on Dec. 13,
1988, shares record), most points in one season by a center (94 in 1987-88),
most points on road in one season (49 in 1989-90), most consecutive games
with at least one goal (6 from Dec. 15-26, 1989)
New Jersey Points
Leader: 1987-88 (94), 1989-90 (86)
N.J. Assists
Leader: 1987-88 (57, tie), 1989-90 (56), 1990-91 (51)
Montreal
Points
Leader: 1991-92 (77)
Montreal Goals Leader: 1991-92 (36)
Montreal Playoffs Points
Leader: 1994 (8)
Montreal Playoffs Goals
Leader: 1992 (4), 1994 (6)
Montreal Playoffs Penalty-Minutes
Leader: 1992 (31)
Miscellaneous: Was represented by player agent Gus Badali when he entered
the NHL in 1984. ... Wore No. 27 as an NHL rookie with New Jersey because
his preferred No. 9 was held by Don Lever. ... Began 1984-85 season as a
left wing, but shifted back to his natural position of center in November
1984. ... Had assist as a rookie in NHL All-Star Game at Calgary on Feb. 12,
1985. ... Set New Jersey records (since broken) for points in one season by
a rookie (54) and assists in one season by a rookie (37) in 1984-85. The
records were for New Jersey players only, coming up six points and one
assist short of the franchise records. ... Finished sixth in voting for
1984-85 Calder Trophy. ... Also played left wing for New Jersey during
1985-86 season. ... Missed part of 1985-86 season with hyper-extended right
knee, an injury suffered when he collided with Doug Sulliman during New
Jersey's Jan. 13, 1986, practice. He did not return to action until New
Jersey's Jan. 21, 1986, game at Vancouver. ... Played left wing on line with
Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy for Wales Conference at NHL All-Star Game at
Hartford on Feb. 4, 1986. ... Named NHL Co-Player of Week for week ending
March 8, 1986. ... Played on line with Aaron Broten for New Jersey in
1986-87. ... Named New Jersey Fan Club Player of Month for October 1986. ...
Set New Jersey record (since broken) for assists in one season by a center
in 1986-87. ... Named New Jersey Fan Club Player of Month for January 1988.
... Set New Jersey single-season records (since broken) for points (94),
points at home (53), and shots on goal (215) in 1987-88. ... Tied New Jersey
single-season records (since broken) for assists (57) and power-play goals
(17) in 1987-88. ... Hampered during 1988 playoffs by arm and leg injuries,
but did not miss any games. ...Scored New Jersey's only regular-season
overtime goal in 1988-89, at Washington on Jan. 20, 1989. ... Named NHL
Player of Week for week ending April 2, 1989. ... Shifted from being a
regular center to being a full-time left wing during the 1989-90 season. He
played both left wing and center for the remainder of his NHL career. ... Had two goals and
one assist in 1990 NHL All-Star Game. ... Named New Jersey Fan Club Player
of Month for January 1990 and February 1990. ... Left New Jersey in 1991
with franchise records (since broken) for career points (520), career
assists (335), consecutive games played (321 from April 5, 1987, to March
31, 1991), career power-play goals (69), and power-play points (168). ...
Missed part of 1991-92 season with right eye injury, suffered when he was
hit by Mathieu Schneider's stick during Montreal's Jan. 21, 1993, practice.
The injury snapped a streak of 369 consecutive games played. ... Missed
parts of 1992-93 season with bruised ribs, an injury suffered during
Montreal's Nov. 7, 1992, game vs. Detroit, and with sprained wrist, an
injury suffered during Montreal's March 6, 1993, game at Minnesota. ...
Missed part of Montreal's 1993 training camp with separated left shoulder,
an injury suffered during Sept. 17, 1993, preseason game vs. Toronto. ...
Missed part of 1993-94 season with re-aggravation of left shoulder injury,
suffered during Montreal's Oct. 11, 1993, game at Boston. He did not return
to action until Montreal's Nov. 3, 1993, game vs. Tampa Bay. .... Scored his
300th career NHL goal during Toronto's Feb. 18, 1996, game vs. Detroit. ...
Was only Toronto player to score a hat trick during 1995-96 season,
achieving feat during Toronto's March 9, 1996, game vs. Calgary. ...
Recorded his 500th career NHL assist during Toronto's April 6, 1996, game
vs. St. Louis. ... Missed parts of 1996-97 season with separated shoulder,
an injury suffered during Toronto's Jan. 3, 1997, game at Edmonton, and with
bruised ankle, an injury suffered during Toronto's March 8, 1997, game vs.
Hartford.
... Was Toronto's nominee for 1996-97 Masterton Trophy. ... Suspended by NHL
for two games and fined $1,000 for high-sticking Niklas Sundstrom in the
hedad during Florida's Nov. 30, 1997, game at N.Y. Rangers. Muller, who had
been tangled with Sundstrom in front of the net, said the hit was
unintentional. ... Missed part of 1997-98 season with sprained left knee, an
injury suffered during Florida's Dec. 20, 1997, game at Philadelphia. He did
not return to action until Florida's Jan. 9, 1998, game at Calgary. He
scored two goals in that game. ... Played his 1,000th career NHL game for
Florida on Jan. 14, 1998, in Phoenix. ... Was Florida's nominee for 1997-98
Masterton Trophy. ... Signed with Dallas as a Group III unrestricted free agent
on Dec. 15, 1999, after having failed to catch on with any other team to
start the 1999-00 season. ... Scored game-winning goal in his first game in
a Dallas uniform, on Dec. 18, 1999, at Vancouver. ... Missed part of 1999-00
season with back spasms, an injury suffered in Dallas' March 26, 2000, game
vs. Colorado. ... Missed part of 2000-01 season with bruised cartilage in
chest, an injury suffered during Dallas' Dec. 27, 2000, game vs. Anaheim. He
did not return to action until Dallas' Feb. 21, 2001, game vs. Minnesota.
... Missed part of 2000-01 season with knee injury, suffered during Dallas'
March 31, 2001, game at Calgary ... Left unprotected by Dallas for 2001 NHL Waiver Draft.
He was claimed by Columbus on Sept. 28, 2001. That same day, Dallas traded Evgeny Petrochinin to Columbus for the return of Muller's rights.
... Missed part of 2001-02 season with unspecified injury, suffered during
Dallas' Oct. 9, 2001, game vs. Los Angeles. ... Missed part of 2001-02
season with sprained shoulder, an injury suffered during Dallas' Oct. 13,
2001, game vs. Calgary. He did not return to action until Dallas' Oct. 24,
2001, game at Pittsburgh.
Unhappy Days on Island: Muller was never happy during his short stint
with the New York Islanders, which began after he was traded to the team by
Montreal on April 5, 1995. Besides not wanting to play for a
losing team, Muller had been looking to renegotiate his contract. The
Islanders were unwilling to offer anything more than a four-year, $8.7
million deal, which Muller's agent, Mike Barnett, rejected. Just 15 games
into the 1995-96 season, the situation came to a head when Muller demanded a
trade. Unwilling to let him remain with the team, Islanders general
manager Don Maloney and head coach Mike Milbury sent Muller home to
California with the intention of trading him. The Islanders executives were
concerned that Muller's negative attitude would reflect poorly on the team,
particularly since he was not playing as well as he could. On Dec. 2, 1995,
Maloney was fired and replaced by Darcy Regier, who was told to clean up the
Muller mess by making a trade. Regier was soon replaced by Milbury,
who ordered Muller to return to the team on Dec. 20, 1995. Muller refused to
return, and the Islanders suspended him without pay. Milbury looked for a
trade, but accused Barnett of sabotaging deals by telling other teams what
Muller's terms would be. On Jan. 6, 1996, Milbury announced that he would
not trade Muller until he agreed to report to any team that obtained him.
Milbury also insisted that Muller honor his three-year, $6.2 million
(Canadian) contract. Milbury had tried to send Muller to Edmonton, but
Barnett had told the Oilers that Muller did not want to play there and would
insist on a contract renegotiation. Finally, on Jan. 23, 1996, the Islanders
made a three-way deal with Toronto and Ottawa, enabling Muller to resume his
career. First, the Islanders sent future considerations to Toronto in
exchange for Ken Belanger and Damian Rhodes. The Islanders then traded
Rhodes and Wade Redden to Ottawa in exchange for Don Beaupre, Martin Straka
and Bryan Berard. The Islanders then sent Muller and Beaupre to Toronto to
settle the future considerations and complete the trade. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams:
None
NHL-USSR Rendez-vous Series: 1987
World Championships: 1985
(silver medal), 1986 (bronze medal), 1987 (fourth place), 1989 (silver
medal)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Coaching Career: Named Kingston (OHL) assistant coach on Oct. 7,
2003, and remained in that position through 2003-04 season. ... Named
Queen's (OUAA) head coach on June 17, 2005.
Miscellaneous:
Missed final game of 1986 World Championships with fractured ribs. ...
Played Oldtimers
charity hockey after his retirement.
Personal: Nicknamed
"Captain Kirk." ... Full name is Kirk C. Muller. ... Son of former Kingston
minor hockey official Ed Muller, who passed away due to cancer during the summer of
1997. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE:
New Jersey traded Muller and Roland Melanson to Montreal for Stephane Richer
and Tom Chorske on September 20, 1991. |
|
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|
SNAPSHOT '84 | | Total Selected: |
250 | | Forwards: |
142 | | Defense: |
88 | | Goaltenders: |
20 | | Major Junior: |
110 | | Tier II/Jr. B: |
16/9 | | College Players: |
23 | | High School: |
47 | | Midget: |
4 | | U.S. Junior B: |
1 |
| Canadian: |
145 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
2 | | USA Citizens: |
62 | | U.S.-Born: |
63 |
| European: |
41 |
| Reached NHL: |
102 |
| Stanley Cup: |
20 | | Hall of Fame: |
1 |
| All-Star Game: |
18 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
7 |
| Olympians: |
31 |
|
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