Wisconsin's top-five NHL scorers
June 24, 2009 | Men's Hockey
With the 2009 NHL Entry Draft set for Friday and Saturday at Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, we are taking a look a bit at Wisconsin's NHL history. Today we are taking a look at the top-five Badger alumni scorers in NHL history.
To start with, four of Wisconsin top-12 all-time NHL scorers are currently active in the NHL. Led by Chris Chelios, who is the all-time leading Badger in terms of NHL scoring with 1,092 career points, the group of active players includes Dany Heatley, Brian Rafalski and Steve Reinprecht.
Chelios' total of 1,092 points include both his regular-season and playoff totals. The three-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman has recorded 948 points in the regular season over his 25-year career. The 1983 NCAA champion at Wisconsin has skated for Montreal, Chicago and Detroit so far during his career.
After Chelios, another former Badger defenseman ranks second among Badger alums in the NHL. Gary Suter's 917 career points also include both regular season and playoff totals. During his 17-year career, Suter suited up for Calgary, Chicago and San Jose. Suter won the 1989 Stanley Cup with Calgary and captured a silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games with Team USA. He also scored 220 NHL goals to pace all UW defensemen who went on to reach the NHL.
Ranked third among former Badgers is forward Scott Mellanby. The two-year Badger (1984-86) completed his 21-year NHL career with 893 total points, including 840 during 1,431 regular-season contests. Over his career, Mellanby skated for Philadelphia, Edmonton, Florida, St. Louis and Atlanta. He captained Florida and Atlanta and will perhaps best be remembered for his role in Florida's 1996 Stanley Cup Finals run after killing a rat in the Panthers' locker room. The incident inspired fans to throw toy rats on the ice following Panther goals. Mellanby's 388 career NHL goals are tops for a Badger alum.
Brian Mullen checks in at No. 4, with 652 career points in 894 games played over 11 seasons. Mullen broke into the NHL during the 1982-83 season with the Winnipeg Jets after winning an NCAA title at Wisconsin in 1981. He went on to skate for the New York Rangers, San Jose and the New York Islanders.
Fifth on the UW career NHL scoring charts is Dany Heatley. The Ottawa Senator forward has collected 578 points in just 541 games played to sit as the only Badger to average better than a point per game in the NHL. Now through seven NHL seasons, Heatley has long established himself as one of the NHL's top scorers. He has produced a pair of 50-goal seasons and two more seasons with at least 40 goals and with a long career, is easily on pace to become Wisconsin's top NHL scorer.
