Calder Cup Champ Chris Mueller Signs with Rangers

Jul 1, 2014

(Photo courtesy of texasstarshockey.com)

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent forward Chris Mueller.

Mueller, 28, split this past season between the Dallas Stars and the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL). He also skated in nine games with Dallas during the regular season, winning 29 of 54 faceoffs he took (53.7%). Mueller also skated in four playoff games with Dallas, making his NHL playoff debut in Game 3 of the Pacific Division Semifinals vs. Anaheim on April 21. He won 14 of 26 faceoffs he took in the playoffs (53.8%).

In 60 games with Texas this past season, the 5-11, 210-pounder registered 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 points, along with 29 penalty minutes and a plus-nine rating. Mueller established an AHL career-high in assists, and ranked fourth on Texas in goals and points during the season. He also tallied six goals and five assists for 11 points in 19 playoff games while helping Texas win the Calder Cup Championship.

Mueller has skated in 46 career NHL games over parts of four seasons with Nashville and Dallas, registering two goals and six assists for eight points, along with eight penalty minutes. He has won 179 of 355 faceoffs he has taken in his NHL career (50.4%). Mueller made his NHL debut with Nashville on December 28, 2010 vs. Dallas, and tallied his first career NHL point with an assist on January 16, 2011 at Chicago.

Mueller has also skated in 383 career AHL games, registering 117 goals and 129 assists for 246 points, along with 188 penalty minutes and a plus-24 rating. In 2011-12, he established AHL career-highs in games played (73), goals (32), points (60), and shots on goal (196) with the Milwaukee Admirals. Mueller has reached the 20-goal mark and 50-point plateau three times in his AHL career. He has also registered 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points in 44 career AHL playoff games.

The West Seneca, New York native was originally signed by Nashville as an undrafted free agent on December 27, 2010.