Kirk Muller
Kirk C. Muller ( born February 8, 1966 in Kingston, Ontario ) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player (Center), which from 1984 to 2003 for the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League played. Since November 2011 he has been head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League.
Career
The age of 14 he played with the junior in the Ontario Hockey League in his hometown for the Kingston Canadians. As a 16 -year-old when he came into the OHL draft, and came so close to the Guelph Platers and also could draw attention to themselves with convincing performances. After 112 points in his first season in Guelph, he moved to 94 points in only 49 games in the Canadian national team. He first played for Canada at the Junior World Championships and changed after the national team, which was preparing for the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. With two goals and an assists, he also impressed at the Olympics. NHL Entry Draft 1984, he was selected in the first round as the second player by the New Jersey Devils. Before him, only Mario Lemieux was brought, but however numerous stars in the coming years as Ed Olczyk, Al Iafrate, Shayne Corson and Gary Roberts could outmaneuver Muller.
Right in the 1984/85 season he made the jump to the NHL. He played all 80 games and made 54 points. His good performances have been rewarded with the nomination for the NHL All-Star Game. Seven years he stayed with the Devils and missed only four games in that time. With 94 points the season was 1987/88 his most successful in New Jersey.
For the 1991/92 season he moved to the Montreal Canadiens. In his second season in Montreal he set his personal best of 94 points and led the team as captain in the finals for the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens There was able to prevail with star goalkeeper Patrick Roy against the Los Angeles Kings for Wayne Gretzky.
The fans in Montreal were speechless when they "Captain Kirk ", together with Mathieu Schneider Islanders gave during the season 1994/95 on the New York to retrieve Pierre Turgeon to Montreal. With Turgeon also Vladimir Malakhov came to Montreal. Also Muller was shocked when he received the news of his move and had during the interviews this tears in my eyes.
The time with the Islanders was disappointing and after only 15 games in the season 1995/96 he moved to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Again, he did not bring it to a full season and towards the end of the 1996/97 season was his journey continues to the Florida Panthers. There he played with moderate success until the end of season 1998 /99.
At the start of the 1999/2000 season he had no contract. He was worried about his future and signed in December 1999 at the Stanley Cup winner last year, the Dallas Stars, who had to compensate for a number of injuries. Muller was back to its good performance in previous years. He came up with the stars in the Finals, where, however, the New Jersey Devils prevented the title defense.
In the late years of his career Muller took on a more defensive role. Until the 2002/03 season he played with the Stars before he announced his resignation.
For the 2006/07 season, he took over the post of assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens. This position had the Canadians held five seasons before he was hired in June 2011 as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. After the dismissal of Paul Maurice on November 28, 2011, promoted to head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes followed.
NHL stats
Sporting successes
Personal Awards
- Jack Ferguson Award: 1982
- William Hanley Trophy: 1983
- Participate in the NHL All-Star Game: 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1993 and at the Rendez -vous '87