Product Code Database
Kirk Christopher Muller (born February 8, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and current assistant coach with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played in the NHL for 19 seasons from 1984–85 until 2002–03 with the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs and won the Stanley Cup in 1993 as member of the Montreal Canadiens. Muller also previously served as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes from 2011 to 2014, and was an associate coach with the Canadiens from 2016 to 2021 following a previous stint as assistant coach with the team between 2006–2011.
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. 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.
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. Even though his scoring touch of old almost completely evaporated, he still managed to be a strong role player with the Stars for four seasons and was part of the "grumpy old men" line that included Mike Keane and John MacLean. He retired at the end of the 2002–03 season.
Muller played in 6 NHL All-Star Games (1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993.)
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.
On June 27, 2011, the Nashville Predators announced that Muller had been hired as the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. On November 28, 2011, Muller became coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, taking over for Paul Maurice. On May 5, 2014, Muller was relieved of his coaching duties by the Carolina Hurricanes. On May 13, 2014, Muller was signed by the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach.
On June 2, 2016, the Montreal Canadiens rehired Muller as an associate coach.
On August 13, 2020, Muller temporarily replaced head coach Claude Julien who was hospitalized with chest pains.
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.
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.
| 1980–81 | Kingston Voyageurs | MetJHL | 42 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1980–81 | Kingston Canadians | OMJHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1981–82 | Kingston Canadians | OHL | 67 | 12 | 39 | 51 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| 1982–83 | Guelph Platers | OHL | 66 | 52 | 60 | 112 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983–84 | Guelph Platers | OHL | 49 | 31 | 63 | 94 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983–84 | Canada | Intl | 15 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984–85 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 80 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1985–86 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 77 | 25 | 41 | 66 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 79 | 26 | 50 | 76 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1987–88 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 80 | 37 | 57 | 94 | 114 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 37 |
| 1988–89 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 80 | 31 | 43 | 74 | 119 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1989–90 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 80 | 30 | 56 | 86 | 74 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| 1990–91 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 80 | 19 | 51 | 70 | 76 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1991–92 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 78 | 36 | 41 | 77 | 86 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
| 1992–93 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 37 | 57 | 94 | 77 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 18 |
| 1993–94 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 76 | 23 | 34 | 57 | 96 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| 1994–95 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 33 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994–95 | New York Islanders | NHL | 12 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | New York Islanders | NHL | 15 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 36 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 42 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996–97 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 66 | 20 | 17 | 37 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1997–98 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 70 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 82 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 47 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 18 |
| 2000–01 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 55 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 26 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 2001–02 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 78 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 55 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 1984 | Canada | WJC | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 1984 | Canada | OG | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | Canada | WC | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| 1986 | Canada | WC | 9 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 |
| 1987 | Canada | WC | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 1989 | Canada | WC | 9 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 6 |
|
|
