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Bryan Smolinski
BryanSmolinskiSept2007.JPG
Smolinski in 2007
Born (1971-12-27) December 27, 1971 (age 53)
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Center
Shot Right
Played for Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Islanders
Los Angeles Kings
Ottawa Senators
Chicago Blackhawks
Vancouver Canucks
Montreal Canadiens
National team Flag of the United States.svg United States
NHL Draft 21st overall, 1990
Boston Bruins
Playing career 1992–2010

Bryan Anthony Smolinski (born December 27, 1971) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played as a center. The Boston Bruins picked him 21st overall in the 1990 NHL Draft.

Smolinski played for many teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). These teams included the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, and Montreal Canadiens. He also played in other leagues like the International Hockey League (IHL).

Playing Career

Getting Started in Hockey

Bryan Smolinski grew up in Genoa, Ohio. He went to Cardinal Stritch High School in Oregon, Ohio. He played junior hockey for the Stratford Cullitons. Then, he played college hockey for the Michigan State Spartans.

After his first year at college, the Boston Bruins chose him in the first round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 21st player picked overall. Smolinski played four years with the Spartans. After that, he joined the Bruins at the end of the 1992–93 season.

Playing in the NHL

In his first full season, 1993–94, Smolinski scored 31 goals and had 51 points. After playing for the Bruins, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995. In his only season with the Penguins, 1995–96, he had his best year with 40 assists and 64 points.

Smolinski then played three seasons for the New York Islanders. In 1999, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He played four seasons for the Kings. Later, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2003.

BryanSmolinski
Smolinski with the Vancouver Canucks in 2007.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, when NHL games were paused, Smolinski helped coach a hockey team. He returned to the Senators for the 2005–06 season. In 2006, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2007, he moved to the Vancouver Canucks.

After that, Smolinski signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 2007. On October 22, 2007, he played in his 1,000th career NHL game. This is a huge milestone for a hockey player!

After the NHL

After playing for the Montreal Canadiens, Smolinski became an assistant coach for a high school team in Michigan. With his help, the team won their District Championship for the first time in four years.

In 2009, Smolinski played for the Port Huron Icehawks in the IHL. He also played for the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL.

Today, Bryan Smolinski works with the National Hockey League. He helps with their "Learn To Play" program, which teaches kids how to play hockey. In 2015, he was honored by being added to the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. He also referees high school hockey games in Michigan.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1987–88 Detroit Little Caesars MNHL 80 43 77 120 — — — — — —
1988–89 Stratford Cullitons MWJHL 46 32 62 94 132 — — — — —
1989–90 Michigan State University CCHA 39 10 17 27 45 — — — — —
1990–91 Michigan State University CCHA 35 9 12 21 24 — — — — —
1991–92 Michigan State University CCHA 44 30 35 65 59 — — — — —
1992–93 Michigan State University CCHA 40 31 37 68 91 — — — — —
1992–93 Boston Bruins NHL 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 NHL 81 24 40 64 69 18 5 4 9 10
1996–97 Detroit Vipers IHL 6 5 7 12 10 — — — — —
1996–97 New York Islanders NHL 64 28 28 56 25 — — — — —
1997–98 New York Islanders NHL 81 13 30 43 34 — — — — —
1998–99 New York Islanders NHL 82 16 24 40 49 — — — — —
1999–2000 Los Angeles Kings 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 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 UHL 21 9 23 32 18 — — — — —
2005–06 Ottawa Senators NHL 81 17 31 48 46 10 3 3 6 2
2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 62 14 23 37 29 — — — — —
2006–07 Vancouver Canucks NHL 19 4 3 7 8 12 2 2 4 8
2007–08 Montreal Canadiens NHL 64 8 17 25 20 12 1 2 3 2
2008–09 Port Huron Icehawks IHL 21 9 21 30 18 6 3 3 6 9
2008–09 Milwaukee Admirals AHL — — — — — 7 3 1 4 6
2009–10 Flint Generals IHL 48 24 25 49 42 12 3 12 15 4
NHL totals 1,055 274 377 651 606 123 23 29 52 60

International Games

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1990 United States WJC 7 2 3 5 8
1996 United States WCH 6 0 5 5 0
1998 United States WC 6 3 1 4 10
1999 United States WC 6 3 3 6 8
2004 United States WCH 3 1 0 1 0
Senior totals 21 7 9 16 18

Awards and Honors

Award Year
All-CCHA First Team 1992–93
AHCA West First-Team All-American 1992–93
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