Kirk Muller

Kirk Christopher Muller (nacido el 8 de febrero de 1966) es un exjugador profesional de hockey sobre hielo canadiense, que se desempeñaba como centro y entrenador. Jugó en la NHL durante 19 temporadas, desde 1984-85 hasta 2002-03 , con los Dallas Stars , Florida Panthers , New Jersey Devils , New York Islanders y Toronto Maple Leafs , y ganó la Copa Stanley en 1993 como miembro de los Montreal Canadiens . Muller también fue entrenador principal de los Carolina Hurricanes de 2011 a 2014 , y entrenador asociado de los Canadiens de 2016 a 2021, tras haber sido entrenador asistente del equipo entre 2006 y 2011. Fue entrenador asistente de los Washington Capitals de 2023 a 2026.

Muller comenzó su carrera juvenil con los Kingston Canadians de la Ontario Hockey League , pero sus temporadas juveniles más exitosas fueron con los Guelph Platers . Hubo una disputa en 1984 entre los Platers y el Equipo Olímpico Canadiense, que quería que Muller jugara con ellos en los Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno de 1984. El dueño de los Platers estaba molesto por perder a Muller por tanto tiempo, pero finalmente llegaron a un acuerdo y Muller jugó en los Juegos Olímpicos. Fue seleccionado en segundo lugar general por los New Jersey Devils en el draft de entrada de la NHL de 1984 detrás de Mario Lemieux . Aunque New Jersey tuvo una racha sorprendentemente exitosa en los playoffs de 1988 , nunca se convirtieron en un serio contendiente a la Copa Stanley mientras Muller estuvo con ellos. Después de abandonar el campamento de entrenamiento el 16 de septiembre de 1991, debido a una disputa contractual, ^{[ 1 ]} fue intercambiado junto con Roland Melanson a los Montreal Canadiens por Stéphane Richer y Tom Chorske el 20 de septiembre.

Muller quickly became a fan favourite in Montreal, and he helped them win the Stanley Cup in 1993. He was traded to the New York Islanders during the 1994–95 NHL season. Initially, he was reluctant to report to the Islanders, then played a handful of games in an uninterested manner before team management decided that his poor attitude outweighed his potential contributions on the ice and barred him from the team.^[2] Eventually, the Islanders recalled Muller, but he refused to report, freeing the Islanders from their contractual obligations to pay him. Ultimately, Muller was traded at a discount to the Toronto Maple Leafs, in a three team trade that saw Muller and Don Beaupre go to the Maple Leafs, Martin Straka, Ken Belanger and the rights to Bryan Berard go to the Islanders while Damian Rhodes and the rights to Wade Redden went to the Ottawa Senators. Muller had his last 20 goal season with the Maple Leafs the next season, but he was traded to the Florida Panthers for prospect Jason Podollan as the Leafs fell out of the playoff picture.^[3]

Muller struggled in Florida, scoring just four goals in the whole 1998–99 NHL season. His last break came when he signed with the Dallas Stars in the middle of the 1999–2000 season. He spent four seasons with the Stars on a line that included Mike Keane and John MacLean. He retired at the end of the 2002–03 season.

Muller played in the NHL All-Star Game six times (1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993).^[4]

Muller began his coaching career with the Queen's UniversityGolden Gaels in his hometown of Kingston. During 2005-06, Muller's Golden Gaels posted an 8-13-1-2 record in the Ontario University Athletics Conference.

Muller also held the title of assistant coach to Marc Habscheid with Team Canada, winning the gold medal at the 2005 Lotto Cup Tournament in Slovakia. In March 2006, he served as assistant coach to Greg Gilbert at the Under-18 World Championship.

Muller returned to the Montreal Canadiens on June 20, 2006, when he was named assistant coach of the Canadiens.^[5]

On June 27, 2011, the Nashville Predators announced that Muller had been hired as the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.^[6] On November 28, 2011, Muller became coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, taking over for Paul Maurice.^[7] On May 5, 2014, Muller was relieved of his coaching duties by the Carolina Hurricanes.^[8] On May 13, 2014, Muller was signed by the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach.^[9]

On June 2, 2016, the Montreal Canadiens rehired Muller as an associate coach.^[10]

On August 13, 2020, Muller temporarily replaced head coach Claude Julien who was hospitalized with chest pains.^[11]

On February 24, 2021, Muller along with head coach Claude Julien were fired from the Canadiens and former assistant coach Dominique Ducharme took over as interim head coach.^[12]

On June 10, 2021, Kirk Muller was named an associate coach for the Calgary Flames under head coach Darryl Sutter. He was named an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals on July 20, 2023. Muller left the Capitals at the end of their 2025-26 season.^[13]

• New Jersey Devils franchise record for points in a single game (6) – Oct. 29, 1986
• New Jersey Devils franchise record for assists in a single game (5) – Mar. 25, 1987

• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Official website
• Total Hockey (Second Edition), Editor - Dan Diamond, ISBN 1-892129-85-X