The Ties Between College Hockey And The Pros

Over 220 former college players skated last season at hockey's pinnacle, the NHL, making an impact at every position. Seven of the NHL's top 14 rookie scorers arrived from the college ranks along with four of top six goals scorers and goalies sporting six of the Top 20 goals-against averages. And as the business of hockey becomes increasingly more complex, college hockey is where the NHL turns to, more and more, for front-office talent. Almost half of the NHL's general managers have a U.S. college pedigree.

So far this season, more than 200 ex-collegians have gotten into an NHL lineup. Here is a team-by-team breakdown for the 2007-08 campaign to date.

(9) Anaheim    

GM Brian Burke - Providence College
Assistant GM Dave McNab - Wisconsin
Assistant Coach Newell Brown - Michigan State

Joe DiPenta - Boston University
Kent Huskins - Clarkson
Chris Kunitz - Ferris State
Todd Marchant - Clarkson
Andy McDonald - Colgate
George Parros - Princeton
Ryan Shannon - Boston College

Have Also Played This Season
Ryan Carter - Minnesota State
Mark Mowers - New Hampshire

(6) Atlanta  

GM and Head Coach Don Waddell - Northern Michigan
Asst. Coach  Steve Weeks - Northern Michigan
Video Coach  Tony Borgford - Mercyhurst

Darren Haydar - New Hampshire
Ken Klee - Bowling Green
Eric Perrin - Vermont
Jim Slater - Michigan State
Todd White - Clarkson

Have Also Played This Season
Brett Sterling - Colorado College

(9) Boston        

GM Peter Chiarelli - Harvard
Director of Player Development Bob Sweeney - Harvard
Goalie Coach Bob Essensa - Michigan State

Andrew Alberts - Boston College
Bobby Allen - Boston College
Brandon Bochenski - North Dakota
Phil Kessel - Minnesota
Chuck Kobasew - Boston College
Mark Stuart - Colorado College
Tim Thomas - Vermont
Aaron Ward - Michigan
Matt Hunwick

(4) Buffalo    

Assistant Coach Brian McCutcheon - Cornell
Assistant Coach James Patrick - North Dakota

Ryan Miller - Michigan State
Thomas Vanek - Minnesota
Michael Ryan - Northeastern
Drew Stafford - North Dakota

(5) Calgary    

Head Coach Mike Keenan - St. Lawrence    

Craig Conroy  - Clarkson
David Hale - North Dakota
Curtis McElhinney - Colorado College
David Moss - Michigan
Eric Nystrom - Michigan

(11) Carolina    

Coach Peter Laviolette - Westfield State (NCAA Division III)

Craig Adams - Harvard
Rod Brind'Amour - Michigan State
Erik Cole - Clarkson
Mike Commodore - North Dakota
Matt Cullen - St. Cloud
John Grahame - Lake Superior State
Jeff Hamilton - Yale
Bret Hedican - St. Cloud
David Tanabe - Wisconsin

Have Also Played This Season
Keith Aucoin - Norwich (Division III)
Ryan Bayda - North Dakota

(8) Chicago

Kevyn Adams - Miami
Rene Bourque - Wisconsin
Adam Burish - Wisconsin
Jacob Dowell - Wisconson
Duncan Keith - Michigan State
Patrick Sharp - Vermont
Jonathan Toews - North Dakota

Have Also Played This Season
Danny Richmond - Michigan

(7) Colorado

Asst. Coach Tony Granato - Wisconsin

Tyler Arnason - St. Cloud State
T.J. Hensick - Michigan
Jeff Finger - St. Cloud State
Ben Guite - Maine
Jordan Leopold - Minnesota
J.M. Liles - Michigan State
Paul Stastny - Denver

(2) Columbus        

Director of Player Personnel Don Boyd - Bowling Green
Director of Amateur Scouting Paul Castron - St. Lawrence

Curtis Glencross - Alaska-Anchorage
Ron Hainsey - UMass Lowell

(6) Dallas    

Co-General Manager Brett Hull - Minnesota-Duluth
Head Coach Dave Tippett - North Dakota
Assistant Coach Rick Wilson - North Dakota
Director of Player Personnel Dave Taylor - Clarkson

Chris Conner - Michigan Tech
Jeff Halpern - Princeton
Matt Niskanen - Minnesota-Duluth
Marty Turco - Michigan
Brad Winchester - Wisconsin

Have Also Played This Season
Junior Lessard - Minnesota-Duluth

(5) Detroit

Chris Chelios - Wisconsin
Dallas Drake - North Dakota
Mark Hartigan - St. Cloud
Brett Lebda - Notre Dame
Brian Rafalski - Wisoconsin

(8) Edmonton    

Head Coach Craig MacTavish - Mass-Lowell
Development Coach Bob Mancini - Colorado College
Director of Hockey Administration Rick Olczyk - Brown

Andrew Cogliano - Michigan
Tom Gilbert - Wisconsin
Matt Greene - North Dakota
Shawn Horcoff - Michigan State
Dustin Penner - Maine
Fernando Pisani - Providence
Dwayne Roloson - UMass Lowell
Marty Reasoner - Boston College

(6) Florida    

Alternate Governor Bill Torrey - St. Lawrence
General Manager & Head Coach Jacques Martin - St. Lawrence
Assistant GM Randy Sexton - St. Lawrence
Manager, Hockey Administration Murray Cawker - St. Lawrence
Director of Pro Scouting Bill O'Flaherty - Clarkson

David Booth - Michigan State
Cory Murphy - Colgate
Mike Van Ryn - Michigan
Noah Welch - Harvard

Have Also Played This Season
Tanner Glass - Dartmouth
Rob Globke - Notre Dame

(10) L.A. Kings    

General Manager Dean Lombardi - New Haven
Assistant Coach Nelson Emerson - Bowling Green

Rob Blake - Bowling Green
Mike Cammalleri - Michigan
Jeff Giuliano - Boston College
Peter Harrold - Boston College
Jack Johnson - Michigan
Tom Preissing - Colorado College
Jonathan Quick - Massachusetts
John Zeiler - St. Lawrence

Have Also Played This Season
Matt Moulston - Cornell
Brady Murray - North Dakota

(7) Minnesota        

Owner Bob Naegle - Dartmouth
Asst. Coach Mike Ramsey - Minnesota
Goalie Coach Bob Mason - Minnesota-Duluth

Keith Carney - Maine
Matt Foy - Merrimack
Sean Hill - Wisconsin
Dominic Moore - Harvard
Mark Parrish - St. Cloud State
Brian Rolston - Lake Superior State
Aaron Voros - Alaska

(4) Montreal

Chris Higgins - Yale
Mike Komisarek - Michigan
Ryan O'Byrne - Cornell
Bryan Smolinski - Michigan State

(6) Nashville    

General Manager David Poile - Northeastern
Assistant General Manager Paul Fenton - Boston University
Chief Amateur Scout Jeff Kealty - Boston University

Greg de Vries - Bowling Green
Dan Ellis - Nebraska-Omaha
Jed Ortmeyer - Michigan
Rick Peverley - St. Lawrence
Ryan Suter - Wisconsin
Greg Zanon - Nebraska-Omaha

(9) New Jersey    

General Manager & Head Coach Lou Lamoriello - Providence
VP-Director of Hockey Operations David Conte - Colgate

Brian Gionta - Boston College
Andy Greene - Miami
John Madden - Michigan
Paul Martin - Minnesota
Mike Mottau - Boston College
Jay Pandolfo - Boston University
Rod Pelley - Ohio State
Zach Parise - North Dakota
Travis Zajac - North Dakota

(9) NY Islanders    

General Manager Garth Snow - Maine
Director of Pro Scouting Ken Morrow - Bowling Green
Goalie Coach  Mike Dunham - Maine

Shawn Bates - Boston University
Wade Dubielewicz - Denver
Rick DiPietro - Boston University
Bill Guerin - Boston College
Andy Hilbert - Michigan
Freddy Meyer - Boston University
Andy Sutton - Michigan Tech
Jeff Tambellini - Michigan
Ben Walter - UMass Lowell

(3) NY Rangers    

Director of Player Personnel Gordie Clark - New Hampshire
Head Amateur Scout Jim Hammett - Alaska

Chris Drury - Boston University

Have Also Played This Season
Greg Moore - Maine
Thomas Pock - Massachusetts

(5) Ottawa    

Asst. Coach Greg Carvel - St. Lawrence
Director of Hockey Operations Brent Flahr - Princteon

Joe Corvo - Western Michigan
Patrick Eaves - Boston College
Brian Elliott - Wisconsin
Dany Heatley - Wisconsin
Randy Robitaille - Miami

(6) Philadelphia

General Manager Paul Holmgren - Minnesota
Assistant Coach Joe Mullen - Boston College

Jim Dowd - Lake Superioer
R.J. Umberger - Ohio State
Nate Guenin - Ohio State
Randy Jones - Clarkson
Ryan Potulny - Minnesota
Mike Knuble - Michigan

(8) Phoenix        

Director of Player Personnel Tom Kurvers - Minnesota-Duluth
Director of Player Development Eddie Mio - Colorado College

Keith Ballard - Minnesota
Matt Jones - North Dakota
Steve Reinprecht - Wisconsin
Jeff Taffe - Minnesota
Bill Thomas - Nebraska-Omaha
Daniel Winnik - New Hampshire
Mike York - Michigan State

Have Also Played This Season
Ryan Caldwell - Denver


(7) Pittsburgh

General Manager Ray Shero - St Lawrence
Director of Player Development Tom Fitzgerald - Providenc
Director of Hockey Administration Jason Botterill - Michigan
Director of Amateur Scouting Jay Heinbuck - St. Lawrence

Ty Conklin - New Hampshire
Mark Eaton - Notre Dame
Adam Hall - Michigan State
Ryan Malone - St. Cloud State
Brooks Orpik - Boston College
Robert Scuderi - Boston College
Ryan Whitney - Boston University

(7) San Jose     

VP & Assistant General Manager Wayne Thomas - Wisconsin
Head Coach Ron Wilson - Providence
Director of Scouting Tim Burke - New Hampshire
Director of Pro Scouting Sean Coady - New Hampshire
Goalie Coach Cap Raeder - New Hampshire

Matt Carle - Denver
Mike Grier - Boston University
Torrey Mitchell - Vermont
Doug Murray - Cornell
Brad Norton - Massachusetts
Patrick Rismiller - Holy Cross
Joe Pavelski - Wisconsin

(11) St. Louis        

Assistant General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen - Clarkson

David Backes - Minnesota State
Dan Hinote - Army
Eric Johnson - Minnesota
Mike Johnson - Bowling Green
Ryan Johnson - North Dakota
Paul Kariya - Maine
Jamal Mayers - Western Michigan
Keith Tkachuk - Boston University
Steve Wagner - Minnesota State
Doug Weight - Lake Superior State
Lee Stempniak - Dartmouth

(6) Tampa Bay

Head Coach John Tortorella - Maine
Assistant Coach Mike Sullivan - Boston University

Dan Boyle - Miami
Doug Janik - Maine
Mike Lundin - Maine
Craig MacDonald - Harvard
Martin St. Louis - Vermont

Have Also Played This Season
Matt Smaby - North Dakota

(5) Toronto

General Manager John Ferguson - Providence
Goalie Coach Steve McKichan - Miami

Bates Battaglia - Lake Superior State
Jason Blake - North Dakota & Ferris State
Hal Gill - Providence
John Pohl - Minnesota
Andy Wozniewski - Wisconsin

(9) Vancouver

President & CEO Chris Zimmerman - Vermont
General Manager David Nonis - Maine

Kevin Bieksa - Bowling Green
Mike Brown - Michigan
Ryan Kesler - Ohio State
Aaron Miller - Vermont
Brendan Morrison - Michigan
Willie Mitchell - Clarkson
Mason Raymond - Minnesota-Duluth
Mike Weaver - Michigan State

Have Also Played This Season
Ryan Shannon - Boston College

(7) Washington

General Manager George McPhee - Bowling Green
Director of Player Personnel Brian MacLellan - Bowling Green
Assistant Coach Jay Leach - New Haven

Chris Clarke - Clarkson
Joe Motzko - St. Cloud
Matt Pettinger - Denver
Bryan Pothier - RPI
Tom Poti - Boston University
David Steckel - Ohio State

Have Also Played This Season
Chris Bourque - Boston University

(Total - 200 players)

Art Ross Trophy (Regular-season scoring champion)
2004    Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay) - Vermont

Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
2004    Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay) - Vermont
1991    Brett Hull (St. Louis) - Minnesota-Duluth

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Most Gentlemanly Player)
1997    Paul Kariya (Anaheim) - Maine
1996    Paul Kariya (Anaheim) - Maine
1990    Brett Hull (St. Louis) - Minnesota-Duluth
1989    Joe Mullen (Calgary) - Boston College
1987    Joe Mullen (Calgary) - Boston College

Calder Memorial Trophy (Most Outstanding Rookie)
2002    Dany Heatley (Atlanta) - Wisconsin
1999    Chris Drury (Colorado) - Boston University
1991    Ed Belfour (Chicago) - North Dakota
1989    Brian Leetch ((NY Rangers) - Boston College
1988    Joe Nieuwendyk (Calgary) - Cornell
1986    Gary Suter (Calgary) - Wisconsin
1972    Ken Dryden (Montreal) - Cornell
1970    Tony Esposito (Chicago) - Michigan Tech

James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenseman)
1998    Rob Blake (Los Angeles) - Bowling Green
1997    Brian Leetch (NY Rangers) - Boston College
1996    Chris Chelios (Chicago) - Wisconsin
1993    Chris Chelios (Chicago) - Wisconsin
1992    Brian Leetch (NY Rangers) - Boston College
1989    Chris Chelios (Chicago) - Wisconsin
1984    Rod Langway (Washington) - New Hampshire
1983    Rod Langway (Washington) - New Hampshire

Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender)
1996    Jim Carey (Washington) - Wisconsin
1993    Ed Belfour (Chicago) - North Dakota
1991    Ed Belfour (Chicago) - North Dakota
1979    Ken Dryden (Montreal) - Cornell
1978    Ken Dryden (Montreal) - Cornell
1977    Ken Dryden (Montreal) - Cornell
1976    Ken Dryden (Montreal) - Cornell
1974    Tony Esposito (Chicago) - Michigan Tech
1973    Ken Dryden (Montreal) - Cornell
1972    Tony Esposito (Chicago) - Michigan Tech

Conn Smythe Trophy (Stanley Cup Playoff MVP)
1999    Joe Nieuwendyk (Dallas) - Cornell
1994    Brian Leetch (NY Rangers) - Boston College
1971    Ken Dryden (Montreal) - Cornell

Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year)
2004    John Tortorell (Tampa Bay) - Maine
1999    Jacques Martin (Ottawa) - St. Lawrence
1985    Mike Keenan (Chicago) - St. Lawrence
1981    Red Berenson (St. Louis) - Michigan

Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward)
2006    Rod Brind’Amour (Carolina) – Michigan State
2001    John Madden (New Jersey) – Michigan
1990    Rick Meagher (St. Louis) – Boston University
1987    Dave Poulin (Philadelphia) – Notre Dame

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Perseverance, Sportsmanship & Dedication)
1999    John Cullen (Tampa Bay) - Boston University
1997    Tony Granato (San Jose) - Wisconsin
1991    Dave Taylor (Los Angeles) - Clarkson

King Clancy Memorial Trophy (Leadership On and Off the Ice)
2001    Shjon Podein (Colorado) - Minnesota-Duluth
2000    Curtis Joseph (Toronto) - Wisconsin
1995    Joe Nieuwendyk (Calgary) - Cornell
1993    Dave Poulin (Boston) - Notre Dame
1991    Dave Taylor (Los Angeles) - Clarkson

Lester B. Pearson Award (Most Outstanding Player as voted by players)
2004    Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay) - Vermont
1991    Brett Hull (St. Louis) - Minnesota-Duluth
1981    Mike Liut (St. Louis) - Bowling Green

MBNA Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award (Best Save Percentage)
2004    Dwayne Roloson (Minnesota) - UMass Lowell
2003    Marty Turco (Dallas) - Michigan
2001    Marty Turco (Dallas) - Michigan
2000    Ed Belfour (Dallas) - North Dakota