Bryan Smolinski
Encyclopedia
Bryan Anthony Smolinski (born December 27, 1971) is an American
professional ice hockey
center
. The Boston Bruins
drafted him 21st overall in 1990
. He has played in the National Hockey League
(NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins
, New York Islanders
, Los Angeles Kings
, Ottawa Senators
, Chicago Blackhawks
, Vancouver Canucks
and Montreal Canadiens
. He has also previously played with the Port Huron Icehawks
of the International Hockey League (IHL).
and played college hockey
for the Michigan State Spartans
. After his freshman year, he was drafted 21st overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft
by the Boston Bruins
. Smolinksi completed a four-year tenure with the Spartans before joining the Boston Bruins
for the end of the 1992–93 season.
to the Pittsburgh Penguins
for Kevin Stevens
and Shawn McEachern
. Playing in his only season with the Penguins in 1995–96, he scored a career-high 40 assists and 64 points. However, Smolinski and the Penguins could not agree on a new contract in the off-season and he subsequently sat out the start of the next season, playing for the Detroit Vipers
of the IHL. In November 1996, general manager Mike Milbury
of the New York Islanders
traded defenceman Darius Kasparaitis
and rookie Andreas Johansson for the rights to negotiate a contract with Smolinski.
Smolinski played three seasons for the Islanders before being traded in June 1999 as part of an eight-player deal that saw him, Žigmund Pálffy
, goaltender Marcel Cousineau
, and 4th round selection previously acquired from the New Jersey Devils
(Daniel Johansson) traded to the Los Angeles Kings
for Olli Jokinen
, Josh Green
, Mathieu Biron
, and a first-round selection (Taylor Pyatt
). Smolinski played four seasons for the Kings, before being traded to the Ottawa Senators
at the trade deadline for defence prospect Tim Gleason
on March 11, 2003.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Smolinski was an assistant hockey coach at Cranbrook Kingswood before briefly playing for the Motor City Mechanics
of the United Hockey League
(UHL). Returning to the Senators for the 2005–06 season, he was traded in the subsequent off-season on July 9, 2006, to the Chicago Blackhawks
in a three-way deal with the Senators and San Jose Sharks
. Smolinski started the 2006–07 season with the Blackhawks but was later traded prior to the trade deadline to the Vancouver Canucks
on February 26, 2007, for a conditional second round draft pick.
Becoming a free agent in the 2007 off-season, Smolinski signed a one year contract with the Montreal Canadiens
on July 2, 2007. On October 22, Smolinski played in his 1,000th career game in a game against the Bruins.
Without an NHL job, on February 24, 2009, Smolinski signed a deal with the Port Huron Icehawks
of the IHL. On April 30, 2009, Smolinski signed a deal with the Milwaukee Admirals
of the AHL
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
center
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
. The Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
drafted him 21st overall in 1990
1990 NHL Entry Draft
The 1990 National Hockey League Entry Draft was the 28th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 16, 1990...
. He has played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
and Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. He has also previously played with the Port Huron Icehawks
Port Huron Icehawks
The Port Huron Icehawks were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Port Huron, Michigan. They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at McMorran Arena. The franchise was announced on June 20, 2007 as part of the new IHL. The Icehawks are owned by...
of the International Hockey League (IHL).
Drafted
Smolinski grew up in Genoa, OhioGenoa, Ohio
Genoa is a village in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,230 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Genoa is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
and played college hockey
College hockey
College hockey refers to ice hockey played between colleges with their teams composed of enrolled students. College hockey is played in Canada and the United States, though leagues outside of North America exist....
for the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey
The Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Michigan State University . The team plays at the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, on the MSU campus. The current head coach is Tom Anastos, who took over coaching duties on March 23, 2011,...
. After his freshman year, he was drafted 21st overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft
1990 NHL Entry Draft
The 1990 National Hockey League Entry Draft was the 28th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 16, 1990...
by the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. Smolinksi completed a four-year tenure with the Spartans before joining the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
for the end of the 1992–93 season.
National Hockey League
Playing in his rookie campaign in 1993–94 Smolinski tallied 31 goals and 51 points. After a 31-point season in the shortened 1994–95 campaign, Smolinski was traded in the summer of 1995 alongside Glen MurrayGlen Murray (hockey player)
Glen Murray is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings.-Playing career:...
to the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
for Kevin Stevens
Kevin Stevens
Kevin "Artie" Stevens is a retired ice hockey player and current NHL scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played left wing on a line with Mario Lemieux during the Penguins' Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992...
and Shawn McEachern
Shawn McEachern
Shawn K. McEachern is an American ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player. He is the current head boys' varsity ice hockey coach at The Rivers School, an independent 6–12 school in Weston, Massachusetts....
. Playing in his only season with the Penguins in 1995–96, he scored a career-high 40 assists and 64 points. However, Smolinski and the Penguins could not agree on a new contract in the off-season and he subsequently sat out the start of the next season, playing for the Detroit Vipers
Detroit Vipers
The Detroit Vipers was an International Hockey League team. The team was founded in 1994, and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.-Beginning:...
of the IHL. In November 1996, general manager Mike Milbury
Mike Milbury
Michael Milbury is an American sportscaster currently working as an ice hockey analyst for the New England Sports Network , Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL on NBC. He played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League , all of them as a defenseman for the Boston Bruins...
of the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
traded defenceman Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman. Known by the nickname Kaspar, he has dual citizenship in both the United States and Russia, and he has played for the Russian national ice hockey team.- Playing career :Kasparaitis left Lithuania for Russia at age 14 after...
and rookie Andreas Johansson for the rights to negotiate a contract with Smolinski.
Smolinski played three seasons for the Islanders before being traded in June 1999 as part of an eight-player deal that saw him, Žigmund Pálffy
Zigmund Palffy
Žigmund "Ziggy" Pálffy is a Slovak professional ice hockey player of Hungarian origin, who plays for HK 36 Skalica of the Slovak Extraliga....
, goaltender Marcel Cousineau
Marcel Cousineau
Marcel Cousineau is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 26 games in the National Hockey League. He was selected by Boston Bruins in third round of the NHL draft. As a rookie, he was named to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League All-Rookie Team...
, and 4th round selection previously acquired from the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(Daniel Johansson) traded to the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for Olli Jokinen
Olli Jokinen
Olli Jokinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was initially drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1997, third overall after Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. He was the captain of the Florida Panthers from 2003...
, Josh Green
Josh Green
Joshua Green is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Oklahoma City Barons, of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Mathieu Biron
Mathieu Biron
Mathieu Biron is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He currently plays Defence for the Hamburg Freezers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.-Playing career:...
, and a first-round selection (Taylor Pyatt
Taylor Pyatt
Taylor William Pyatt is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . Drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League , he played major-junior with the Sudbury Wolves...
). Smolinski played four seasons for the Kings, before being traded to the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
at the trade deadline for defence prospect Tim Gleason
Tim Gleason
Timothy Gleason is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
on March 11, 2003.
Motor City Mechanics
The Motor City Mechanics were a professional ice hockey team of the United Hockey League. The Mechanics played their first two seasons, from 2004–2006, at Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena in Fraser, Michigan...
of the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
(UHL). Returning to the Senators for the 2005–06 season, he was traded in the subsequent off-season on July 9, 2006, to the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
in a three-way deal with the Senators and San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Smolinski started the 2006–07 season with the Blackhawks but was later traded prior to the trade deadline to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
on February 26, 2007, for a conditional second round draft pick.
Becoming a free agent in the 2007 off-season, Smolinski signed a one year contract with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
on July 2, 2007. On October 22, Smolinski played in his 1,000th career game in a game against the Bruins.
After the NHL
After his stint with the Montreal Candadiens, Bryan Smolinski began an assistant coaching job for a Michigan high school team, Birmingham Unified. With Smolinski's help, the team became District Champions for the first time in four years.Without an NHL job, on February 24, 2009, Smolinski signed a deal with the Port Huron Icehawks
Port Huron Icehawks
The Port Huron Icehawks were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Port Huron, Michigan. They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at McMorran Arena. The franchise was announced on June 20, 2007 as part of the new IHL. The Icehawks are owned by...
of the IHL. On April 30, 2009, Smolinski signed a deal with the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1989–90 | Michigan State University Michigan State University Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,... |
NCAA | 39 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Michigan State University | NCAA | 35 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Michigan State University | NCAA | 44 | 30 | 35 | 65 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Michigan State University | NCAA | 40 | 31 | 37 | 68 | 93 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1993–94 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 83 | 31 | 20 | 51 | 82 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | ||
| 1994–95 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 44 | 18 | 13 | 31 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1995–96 | Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... |
NHL | 81 | 24 | 40 | 64 | 69 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 10 | ||
| 1996–97 | Detroit Vipers Detroit Vipers The Detroit Vipers was an International Hockey League team. The team was founded in 1994, and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.-Beginning:... |
IHL | 6 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | New York Islanders New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 64 | 28 | 28 | 56 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | New York Islanders | NHL | 81 | 13 | 30 | 43 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Islanders | NHL | 82 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 79 | 20 | 36 | 56 | 48 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2000–01 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 78 | 27 | 32 | 59 | 40 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 14 | ||
| 2001–02 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 80 | 13 | 25 | 38 | 56 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 58 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 10 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | ||
| 2003–04 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 80 | 19 | 27 | 46 | 49 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2004–05 | Motor City Mechanics Motor City Mechanics The Motor City Mechanics were a professional ice hockey team of the United Hockey League. The Mechanics played their first two seasons, from 2004–2006, at Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena in Fraser, Michigan... |
UHL | 21 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 81 | 17 | 31 | 48 | 46 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
NHL | 62 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL | 20 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 2007–08 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 64 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | Port Huron IceHawks Port Huron Icehawks The Port Huron Icehawks were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Port Huron, Michigan. They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at McMorran Arena. The franchise was announced on June 20, 2007 as part of the new IHL. The Icehawks are owned by... |
IHL | 21 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | ||
| 2008–09 | Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee Admirals The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
— | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,056 | 274 | 377 | 651 | 606 | 123 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 60 | ||||
| NCAA totals | 151 | 77 | 95 | 172 | 206 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||