Joe Mullen
Joe Mullen | |||
---|---|---|---|
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2000 | |||
Born |
New York City, U.S. | February 26, 1957||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
Position | Right Wing | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for |
St. Louis Blues Calgary Flames Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Bruins | ||
National team | United States | ||
NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
Playing career | 1979–1997 |
Joseph Patrick Mullen (born February 26, 1957) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins between 1980 and 1997. He was a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams, winning with the Flames in 1989 and the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. Mullen turned to coaching in 2000, serving as an assistant in Pittsburgh and briefly as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He was an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2007 to 2017.
An undrafted player, Mullen was an all-star for the Boston College Eagles before turning professional in the Blues' organization. He was named the Central Hockey League (CHL) rookie of the year in 1980 and most valuable player in 1981 as a member of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most gentlemanly player on two occasions as a member of the Flames, as well as the NHL Plus-Minus Award. Mullen was named to the first All-Star team in 1988–89 and played in three NHL All-Star Games.
Mullen played with the
Early life
Born February 26, 1957, in New York City, Mullen grew up in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan when it was controlled by the Gambino crime family.[1] It was a rough neighborhood; Mullen later said that many of the people he grew up with fell into gangs and drug use, and several died before turning 21.[2] He has three brothers, Ken, Tom Jr. and Brian, and a sister, Debbie.[3]
The Mullen family lived less than a block from the old site of the third Madison Square Garden on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. Joe's father Tom was a longtime employee on the ice and maintenance staffs at the current Garden.[4] Joe and his brothers often hung around the arena with their father, taking old sticks to play with.[3] He began playing roller hockey at the age of five, playing in a concrete schoolyard and using a sanded down roll of electrical tape as a puck.[2] The boys' schoolyard games served as a partial inspiration for New York Rangers' general manager, Emile Francis, to create the Metropolitan Junior Hockey Association in 1966.[1] Mullen did not learn to ice skate until he was ten years old, but at the age of 14 joined the Metropolitan association as one of the league's youngest players.[3] Mullen played four seasons in the league between 1971 and 1975.[5] He scored 71 goals in 1973–74, then 182 points in 40 games the following season. Mullen's 110 goals in 1974–75 was 52 more than his nearest competitor.[3]
Playing career
College
In four seasons with Boston College, Mullen set school records of 110 goals and 212 points (both subsequently broken).[10] He was named to the All-ECAC, All-New England and NCAA All-American teams in 1978 and 1979.[6][11] He won the Walter Brown Award in 1978 as the top American-born player in New England,[9] and was the team captain in 1978–79.[12] Boston College has twice honored Mullen; He was inducted into the school's Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1998, while the hockey program retired his jersey number 21 the following year.[13]
St. Louis Blues
While Mullen had a successful college career, he went
Mullen returned to Salt Lake for the 1980–81 season where he scored 59 goals and led the league with 117 points.[16] He was named to the first all-star team and won the CHL's Most Valuable Player Award.[15] Opening the 1981–82 season with Salt Lake, Mullen had 21 goals in 27 games before he was recalled to St. Louis.[5] He scored his first two NHL goals on January 5, 1981, against the Minnesota North Stars. They came eight seconds apart and set a Blues' franchise record for fastest two goals by one player.[3] Mullen scored 25 goals for the Blues that season and became the first player in history to score at least 20 goals in both the minor leagues and the NHL in the same season.[1]
Injuries reduced Mullen to 49 games with the Blues in
Calgary Flames
The Flames felt they needed a quality offensive player and expected Mullen to fulfill that role.[20] As it was the first time in his career he had been traded, Mullen was initially upset at the move. He was awed by the reaction he received from fans in Calgary however; fans greeted him warmly even as his flight landed to arrive in the city. Mullen described the experience as being "almost like ... an instant celebrity".[6] He quickly established himself as a fan favorite, scoring 38 points in 29 games to end the regular season.[21] He then led the league with 12 goals in the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs.[15] The Flames reached the Finals for the first time in franchise history, but lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games.[17] Mullen set a personal best of 47 goals in his first full year in Calgary, 1986–87, and with only 14 penalty minutes on the season, was voted the winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most gentlemanly player.[16]
Mullen's 40 goals in 1987–88 was the fifth consecutive season he reached that total.[5] He won his first of three consecutive Molson Cups as the Flames player with the most three star selections during the season.[22] 1988–89 was Mullen's best season in the NHL.[1] He reached the 50 goal and 100 point milestones, leading the Flames with 51 and 110 respectively, and won his second Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.[21] He was named a first-team All-Star at right wing and won the Plus-Minus Award at +51.[23] Additionally, he played in his first NHL All-Star Game, appearing opposite his brother Brian.[24] He led the 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs with 16 goals as the Flames defeated the Canadiens to win their first Stanley Cup championship.[21]
Though he played in his second All-Star Game in
Pittsburgh and Boston
The move to Pittsburgh brought Mullen closer to his New York home and fulfilled his desire to raise his family in his native United States. He also appreciated that the Penguins felt he could aid their team. Penguins' head coach
Healthy throughout the 1991–92 season, Mullen rebounded offensively to score 42 goals and 87 points in 77 games.[5] Midway through the season, he became the first player in Penguins' history to have consecutive four-goal games, doing so against the New York Islanders on December 23, 1991, and the Toronto Maple Leafs three days later.[29] He appeared in only nine playoff games, however, as he suffered a knee injury that required surgery to repair in the second game of Pittsburgh's Division Final series against the New York Rangers.[30] Mullen watched from the sidelines as the Penguins repeated as Stanley Cup champions.[6]
Mullen tested
In the
Mullen rejoined the Penguins for the 1996–97 season, signing a one-year contract.[37] He appeared in 54 games and scored 22 points.[5] He scored his 500th career goal on March 14, 1997, in a 6–3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.[38] He retired as a player following the season.[39]
International
Mullen made his first appearance with the United States National Team following his graduation from Boston College.
At the age of 41, Mullen emerged from retirement to join the Americans for a qualifying tournament leading into the
Playing style
"Mully spent a career excelling in areas of the ice a lot of guys wouldn't visit on a threat of death. Great balance on his skates. Great desire. Great teammate. A little guy with big talent and a huge heart."
—Former teammate Brad McCrimmon[21]
Mullen arrived in the NHL possessing great balance on his skates, an ability his teammates and coaches believed he gained from playing roller hockey.[3] His coaches praised his willingness to play in the difficult areas of the ice, even though he stood only five foot nine inches tall and knew he would have to take a hit to make a play.[21] Penguins' play-by-play announcer Mike Lange nicknamed Mullen "Slippery Rock Joe" for his ability to evade opposing players.[45]
The first American player in NHL history to score 500 goals and 1,000 points,
Coaching career
Mullen turned to coaching in 2000, joining the Penguins' staff as an assistant under
Personal life
Mullen and his wife, Linda, have four children: sons Ryan, Michael and Patrick, and a daughter: Erin.[60] Patrick is also a professional hockey player. He signed a contract with the Ottawa Senators organization for the 2013–14 season.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1971–72 | New York 14th Precinct | NYJHL | 30 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1972–73 | New York Westsiders | NYJHL | 40 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1973–74 | New York Westsiders | NYJHL | 42 | 71 | 49 | 120 | 41 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 0 | ||
1974–75 | New York Westsiders | NYJHL | 40 | 110 | 72 | 182 | 20 | 13 | 24 | 13 | 37 | 2 | ||
1975–76 | Boston College Eagles | ECAC | 24 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1976–77 | Boston College Eagles | ECAC | 28 | 28 | 26 | 54 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1977–78 | Boston College Eagles | ECAC | 34 | 34 | 34 | 68 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1978–79 | Boston College Eagles | ECAC | 25 | 32 | 24 | 56 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1979–80 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 75 | 40 | 32 | 72 | 21 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 0 | ||
1979–80 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1980–81 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 80 | 59 | 58 | 117 | 8 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 0 | ||
1981–82 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 27 | 21 | 27 | 48 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1981–82 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 45 | 25 | 34 | 59 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 4 | ||
1982–83 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 49 | 17 | 30 | 47 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1983–84 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 80 | 41 | 44 | 85 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
1984–85 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 79 | 40 | 52 | 92 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1985–86 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 48 | 28 | 24 | 52 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1985–86 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 29 | 16 | 22 | 38 | 11 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 4 | ||
1986–87 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 79 | 47 | 40 | 87 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
1987–88 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 80 | 40 | 44 | 84 | 30 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | ||
1988–89 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 79 | 51 | 59 | 110 | 16 | 21 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 4 | ||
1989–90 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 78 | 36 | 33 | 69 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
1990–91 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 47 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 6 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 4 | ||
1991–92 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 77 | 42 | 45 | 87 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||
1992–93 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 72 | 33 | 37 | 70 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||
1993–94 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 84 | 38 | 32 | 70 | 41 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
1994–95 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 45 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
1995–96 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 37 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1996–97 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 54 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
NHL totals | 1,062 | 502 | 561 | 1,063 | 241 | 143 | 60 | 46 | 106 | 42 |
International
Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979
|
United States | WC | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 2 | |
1984 | United States | CC | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
1987 | United States | CC | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
1991 | United States | CC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
1999 | United States | WC | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
Senior totals | 29 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 4 |
Coaching
League | Team | Season | Regular season |
Post season | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pct | Division rank | Result | |||
AHL | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 2005–06 | 52 | 28 | 16 | 3 | 5 | .615 | 1st East Division | Lost in second round |
3ICE | Team Mullen | 2022 | 21 | 16 | 5 | — | — | .762 | 1st place | Lost in Patrick Cup Finals |
2023 | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | .500 | 5th place | Missed playoffs | ||
AHL totals | 52 | 28 | 16 | 3 | 5 | .615 |
Awards and honors
|
|
See also
References
- Career statistics: "Joe Mullen player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- ^ ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
- ^ a b Hanley, Brian (2000-11-13). "Two paths to fame Savard, Mullen come from different backgrounds to reach the Great Hall this evening". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wolff, Alexander (1982-03-29). "Out of the frying pan, onto the ice". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ Wolff, Alexander (March 29, 1982). "OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, ONTO THE ICE".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Joe Mullen statistics". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g Shea, Kevin (2007-04-27). "One on one with Joe Mullen". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
- ^ Clark, Tim; Kelley, Dick, eds. (2011). 2011–12 Boston College Eagles Media Guide. Boston College. p. 75.
- ^ Clark, Tim; Kelley, Dick, eds. (2011). 2011–12 Boston College Eagles Media Guide. Boston College. p. 97.
- ^ a b c Swift, E. M. (1978-04-03). "It's still a one-way avenue". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
- ^ Clark, Tim; Kelley, Dick, eds. (2011). 2011–12 Boston College Eagles Media Guide. Boston College. pp. 79–80.
- ^ a b Clark, Tim; Kelley, Dick, eds. (2011). 2011–12 Boston College Eagles Media Guide. Boston College. p. 76.
- ^ Clark, Tim; Kelley, Dick, eds. (2011). 2011–12 Boston College Eagles Media Guide. Boston College. p. 73.
- ^ Clark, Tim; Kelley, Dick, eds. (2011). 2011–12 Boston College Eagles Media Guide. Boston College. p. 85.
- ^ Wodson, Adam (2005-07-29). "Great overlooked collegians". CSTV Network. Archived from the original on January 18, 2006. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55407-662-8.
- ^ a b Ornest, Leo, ed. (1989). 1989–90 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 38.
- ^ a b c d e "Joe Mullen biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- ^ Ornest, Leo, ed. (1986). 1986–87 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 26.
- ^ "Mullen signs one-year contract with Blues". The Deseret News. 1985-09-20. p. 6B. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
- ^ a b "Joe Mullen key to 6-player trade". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. 1986-02-03. p. B2. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
- ^ ISBN 1-897229-01-1.
- ^ a b Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean (2007). 2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. pp. 123–125.
- ^ a b c d e Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean (2007). 2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 23.
- ^ Rappoport, Ken (1989-02-06). "Winding road leads Mullens to All-Star Game". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 23. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
- ^ "Say it ain't so..." CNN/Sports Illustrated. 2001-08-08. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ "Jets deal Hawerchuk to Sabres". The Record-Journal (Meriden, CT). 1990-06-17. p. D8. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
- ^ a b Palm, Mike (2010-10-17). "Pens 1990-91 profile: Joe Mullen". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.[dead link]
- ^ Rosa, Francis (1991-05-05). "A boost, a boast". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ "Penguins win 12-1; Mullen scores 4". Chicago Sun-Times. 1991-12-27. Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ a b c Grove, Bob (1992-09-27). "Pens, Mullen reach deal". The Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA). p. C6. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ Robinson, Alan (1993-05-16). "Pens' fans saddened by no three-peat year". The Vindicator. p. G6. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ Molinari, Dave (1994-01-13). "Mullen joins All-Stars, replaces injured Howe". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. B1. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ "Mullen scores 1,000th". Rome News-Tribune. 1995-02-08. p. 12A. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ "Bruins sign 38-year-old-Joe Mullen". Bangor Daily News. 1995-09-08. p. D2. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ Marrapese, Nancy (1991-12-05). "Mullen: Neck surgery out for 8–10 weeks". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ Dupont, Kevin Paul (1996-03-28). "Tocchet sits out, up in air tonight". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ Madden, Mark (1996-08-30). "Mullen rejoins Penguins". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. C1. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ Benton, Jim (1997-03-15). "Mullen first US native to score 500 NHL goals". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ Kovacevic, Dejan (1997-04-24). "In fuss over Lemieux's retirement, Mullen's gets lost in shuffle". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. E4. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7710-9598-6.
- ^ "Team USA routs Finns to reach Cup finals". Chicago Sun-Times. 1991-09-12. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ a b "'Old-timers' lead Americans in tournament". The Buffalo News. 1998-11-03. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ Wade, Stephen (1998-11-02). "U.S. hockey needs another miracle". Sun Journal (Lewiston, ME). p. C3. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ISBN 978-0-7710-9598-6.
- ^ Johnson, George (2010-05-27). "Ex-Flames enjoying amazing ride with Flyers". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ "Preds spoil Modano's record-breaking night, top Stars". ESPN. 2007-03-17. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ "Phil Housley profile". United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2012-11-17. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ "Mullen rolls into new job". Washington Post. 1995-05-23. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ "US Hockey Hall of Fame to induct Mullen". Boston Globe. 1998-09-24. p. E2. Retrieved 2012-09-29.(subscription required)
- ^ "Savard, Mullen earn induction into Hockey Hall of Fame". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 2000-06-16. p. 10C. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ "Blues honor four No. 7's". ESPN. 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (2000-06-21). "Hlinka hired as Penguins coach". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ Robinson, Alan (2001-10-15). "Penguins fire coach Ivan Hlinka". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ "Mullen to coach Pens' AHL team for rest of season". ESPN. 2005-12-19. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ a b "Joe Mullen – Assistant coach". Philadelphia Flyers Hockey Club. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ Price, Karen (2006-06-15). "Mullen out as Wilkes-Barre Penguins coach". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.[dead link]
- ^ "Flyers add Mullen, McIlhargey to staff". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ Obernauer, Michael (2010-05-31). "Philadelphia assistant coach Joe Mullen brings a little New York flavor to Flyers' Stanley Cup chase". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ Carchidi, Sam (2017-04-13). "Flyers dismiss Joe Mullen, seek new power-play coach". Philly.com. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
- ^ Kovacevic, Dejan (2000-11-14). "Mullen's U.S. legacy honored by the Hall". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
- ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
- ^ Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean (2007). 2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 22.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database