Michael Rudolf[1][2]Knuble(/kɪˈnuːbəl/ki-NOO-bəl,Latvian:Maikls Rūdolfs Knuble;born July 4, 1972) is aCanadian-bornAmericanformer professionalice hockeyright wingerwho played in theNational Hockey League(NHL). During his 16 NHL seasons, he played for theDetroit Red Wings,New York Rangers,Boston Bruins,Philadelphia FlyersandWashington Capitals.
| Mike Knuble | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Knuble with theWashington Capitalsin 2012 | |||
| Born |
July 4, 1972 Toronto,Ontario,Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for |
Detroit Red Wings New York Rangers Boston Bruins Philadelphia Flyers Washington Capitals | ||
| National team |
 United States | ||
| NHL draft |
76th overall,1991 Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Playing career | 1995–2013 | ||
He was a member of Detroit's1997–98 Stanley Cupchampionship team, and was a part of the organization during their1996–97 Stanley Cup.
Playing career
editCollegiate
editKnuble was drafted in the fourth round, 76th overall, by theDetroit Red Wingsin the1991 NHL Entry Draft.He played the next four years at theUniversity of Michiganand was given Second TeamCCHAAll-Star honors in 1994 and 1995 andNCAAWest All-American Team honors in 1995. Following his collegiate career, he made his professional debut in the 1995Calder Cupplayoffs with theAdirondack Red Wingsof theAmerican Hockey League(AHL).
Professional
editKnuble spent the entire 1995–96 season and most of the 1996–97 season with theAdirondack Red Wingsin the AHL before making his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings on March 26, 1997. His debut came against theColorado Avalanchein the famous "Fight Night at the Joe"match. He played a total of nine regular season games in1996–97and none in the1997 Stanley Cup playoffs.Detroit won theStanley Cupthat season, but Knuble's name was not engraved on the Cup since he had not played enough games.[3]However, Detroit repeated as Cup Champions in1997–98,his first full season in the NHL, and though he only played three playoff games, he met the necessary requirements to have his name engraved on the Cup. Knuble was included on both Stanley Cup winning team pictures in 1997 and 1998
Prior to the1998–99 season,Detroit traded Knuble to theNew York Rangersfor a 2000 second-round draft choice (Tomáš Kopecký). Knuble played in all 82 games with the Rangers that season, recording 15 goals and 20 assists. With a month to go in the1999–2000 season,the Rangers traded him to theBoston Bruinsin exchange forRob DiMaio.After posting 20 points in 82 games in2000–01and 14 points in 54 games in2001–02,Knuble found himself playing left wing on a line withJoe ThorntonandGlen Murraybeginning in2002–03.He scored 30 goals and 29 assists in 75 games, good for third on the Bruins.
Knuble enjoyed another solid season in2003–04,21 goals and 25 assists in 82 games with the Bruins. During which, he set the NHL record for the fastest two goals to start a game by one player on February 14 against the Florida Panthers. He scored a goal ten seconds into the first period and followed it up with another just 27 seconds into the game.[4]After the season, Knuble signed a three-year contract with thePhiladelphia Flyersin the off-season.[5]He then played forLinköpings HCof the SwedishElitserienduring the2004–05 NHL lockout,scoring 26 goals and assisting on 13 others in 49 games.
When the lockout came to an end, Knuble was slotted to play right wing on a line withSimon GagnéandPeter Forsberg,a line which was later nicknamed the "Deuces Wild Line." He responded with his best season as a professional in 2005–06, recording career highs in goals (34), assists (31) and points (65). On pace to duplicate his numbers despite his team's poor season in 2006–07, Knuble's season was nearly cut short after a collision with Rangers forward and former Red Wings teammateBrendan Shanahan.After missing a month of action, he returned to the ice and finished with 24 goals and 30 assists in 64 games and brought hisplus-minusrating to +2, Knuble being one of two Flyers (Gagné being the other) to finish with a plus rating for the season.
Knuble recorded his first career hat trick on February 2, 2008, scoring all the goals in a 3–0 Flyers win over theAnaheim Ducks.He netted his first career playoff overtime goal on April 17, 2008, scoring the winner during the second overtime of the Flyers' 4–3 victory over theWashington Capitals.He has traveled to schools in New Jersey and Philadelphia teaching kids about hockey in his free time.
On July 1, 2009, Knuble signed a two-year deal worth $2.8 million a season with theWashington Capitals.
On November 13, 2009, in a game against theMinnesota Wild,Knuble broke a finger in the first period and did not finish the game. He returned on December 11 after missing four weeks of action. Knuble scored Washington's first goal in the second period of the2011 NHL Winter ClassicagainstPittsburgh Penguins' goaltenderMarc-André Fleury.[6]
On April 11, 2011, Knuble was re-signed to a one-year, $2 million contract extension with the Capitals.[7]During the2011–12season, on December 20, 2011, Knuble played in his 1,000th NHL game.[8]At that time, Knuble had scored 221 NHL goals since turning age 30.[9]
On January 24, 2013, Knuble signed a one-year deal to return to thePhiladelphia Flyers.[10]
Coaching
editKnuble is currently an assistant coach with theGrand Rapids Griffins,Detroit's minor league affiliate.[11][12]
Personal life
editBorn inToronto,Ontario,Knuble was raised with younger brother Steve inKentwood, Michigan,by hisLatvian-born parents, Aivars and Māra (Miesnieks) Knuble.[13]Because he was born in Canada, Mike has dual Canadian/American citizenship.[14]His father Aivars died of a heart attack at the age of 45 in 1987 when Mike was 15 years old.
Knuble is married to wife Megan. Together they have three children.[15]Cam Knuble was playing hockey in theUSHLwith theMuskegon Lumberjacksin January 2018.[16]Cole Knuble was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023.
Mike's brother Steve, who attendedMichigan State University,lives inHuntsville,Alabama,[17]but has run a hockey clinic inAnn Arbor,Michigan, since 1996.[18]
The Knuble family are currently living inGrand Rapids, Michigan,where he was raised as a child.[19]
Awards and honors
edit| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| All-CCHASecond Team | 1993–94 |
| All-CCHASecond Team | 1994–95 |
| AHCAWest Second-Team All-American | 1994–95 |
- 1997–98:Stanley CupDetroit Red Wings(NHL)
- 2006–07:Yanick Dupre Memorial
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1988–89 | East Kentwood High School | HS-MI | 28 | 52 | 37 | 89 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | East Kentwood High School | HS-MI | 29 | 63 | 40 | 103 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings | NAHL | 36 | 18 | 24 | 42 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 43 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 39 | 26 | 16 | 42 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 41 | 32 | 26 | 58 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 34 | 38 | 22 | 60 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1995–96 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 80 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 59 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 68 | 28 | 35 | 63 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 53 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 82 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | New York Rangers | NHL | 59 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 14 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 82 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 54 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 88 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2002–03 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 75 | 30 | 29 | 59 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 82 | 21 | 25 | 46 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | Linköpings HC | SEL | 49 | 26 | 13 | 39 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 34 | 31 | 65 | 80 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 2006–07 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 64 | 24 | 30 | 54 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 29 | 26 | 55 | 72 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 2008–09 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 27 | 20 | 47 | 62 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 69 | 29 | 24 | 53 | 59 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 79 | 24 | 16 | 40 | 36 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 2011–12 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 72 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 32 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2012–13 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 28 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,068 | 278 | 270 | 548 | 641 | 65 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 38 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | United States | WC | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1999 | United States | WC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| 2001 | United States | WC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2005 | United States | WC | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | |
| 2006 | United States | OG | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| Senior totals | 34 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 26 | |||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"ESPN NHL #22 Mike Knuble".ESPN.2012. Archived fromthe originalon July 7, 2012.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^"NHL #9 Mike Knuble - ESPN".ESPN.2019.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-08-10.Retrieved2006-07-15.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Bruins vs. Panthers - Game Recap - February 14, 2003".Archived fromthe originalon July 6, 2018.
- ^"Flyers Sign Mike Knuble and Turner Stevenson".Philadelphia Flyers. July 3, 2004. Archived fromthe originalon July 8, 2004.RetrievedOctober 28,2013.
- ^Allen, Kevin (2011-01-02)."Winter Classic scene: A closer look at the day in Pittsburgh".USA Today.
- ^"Knuble gets one-year extension".sbnnation.com. 2011-04-11.Retrieved2011-04-11.
- ^"Recap - Capitals 4, Predators 1".2011-12-20. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-01-08.Retrieved2011-12-20.
- ^"Mike Knuble hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com".2011-12-21.Retrieved2011-12-21.
- ^"With Hartnell Out 4-8 Weeks, Flyers Sign Knuble".2013-01-25.
- ^Staff Writer / Detroit Red Wings (June 29, 2015)."Ramsay, Simon join Griffins' coaching staff".NHL.com.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^Fongers, Bryan (March 19, 2019)."BDJ: Mike Knuble - Grand Rapids Griffins Assistant Coach".ESPN 96.1FM.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^Gormley, Chuck (2008-05-11)."Mother's Day Special for Knuble".Philadelphia Flyers.Retrieved2012-02-11.
- ^Pollina, Erin (April 23, 2008)."POMINVILLE SELECTS TEAM USA".NHL.com.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^"Mike Knuble honored for 1,000th NHL game".Washington Times.2011-12-20. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-12-22.Retrieved2012-01-24.
- ^Opfermann, Mark (January 3, 2018)."Son of ex-NHL player, Griffins' assistant looking to develop with Muskegon Lumberjacks".MLive.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
- ^"Hockeysmith South".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-19.Retrieved2012-02-11.
- ^"Knuble Hockey Clinics".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-01-29.Retrieved2012-02-11.
- ^Payne, Brenna (March 11, 2015)."Giving Back To The Game with Mike Knuble".USA Hockey Foundation.RetrievedMarch 30,2019.
Living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his wife and three kids
External links
edit
- Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orEliteprospects.com,orEurohockey.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orThe Internet Hockey Database
- Mike KnubleonTwitter
