Badgers in the NHL: Suter moves into top two for NCAA NHL career games played
April 03, 2025 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
McDonagh plays in 1,000th career game; Lindmark, Mosley make AHL debuts
MADISON, Wis. – Former Wisconsin Badger and Madison native Ryan Suter played in his 1,517th career NHL game on Tuesday, March 25, moving into second place for the most NHL games played by former NCAA skaters.
Badger Chris Chelios is the all-time games played leader among collegiate skaters with 1,651. Badger alumnus Scott Mellanby sits in fifth with 1,431 NHL games played.
Second to one
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 26, 2025
Ryan Suter moved into second place in NHL games played by an NCAA player last night#BadgersintheBigs pic.twitter.com/Dh5sctguMM
In 76 games played this season for the St. Louis Blues, Suter, a defenseman, has one goal and 14 points.
St. Louis goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 29, 2025
Scored by Pavel Buchnevich with 11:06 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Ryan Suter and Robert Thomas.
Colorado: 1
St. Louis: 2#STLvsCOL #GoAvsGo #stlblues pic.twitter.com/xkYFUocu13
Dylan Holloway, the other former Badger on the St. Louis Blues, is having a career year. In 76 games played, Holloway has 26 goals and 63 points, which is tied for second on the roster. In his last five games, the forward has three goals and six points, playing a key role in the Blues' 10-game win streak dating back to March 15.
All we needed was 22 seconds to go from trailing to taking the lead. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/y0KAQ0K0qJ
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 28, 2025
Ryan McDonagh has also recently reached a major milestone. The Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman played in his 1,000th NHL game on March 27, making him the seventh Badger and seventh active NCAA skater to reach the 1,000-game mark.
The other six Badgers to play in 1,000 NHL games include Chris Chelios, Ryan Suter, Scott Mellanby, Joe Pavelski, Gary Suter and Paul Ranheim.
In his 1,000th game, McDonagh recorded two assists to total three goals and 28 points in 74 games played this year.
Already an assist early in Game 1,000 for two-time Stanley Cup champion Ryan McDonagh
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 27, 2025
He's the seventh Badger and seventh active NCAA skater in the club
Joins Chris Chelios, Ryan Suter, Scott Mellanby, Joe Pavelski, Gary Suter and Paul Ranheim as Badgers with the milestone… pic.twitter.com/QmB69uCQ5W
Cole Caufield, a forward on the Montreal Canadiens, has been continuing his hot season as the Canadiens push for a playoff berth. They currently sit in the second wild-card spot with 79 points. In 74 games played, Caufield has 34 goals and 64 points to rank second on the roster. His career-high 34 goals are tied for 12th in the NHL.
Jamais trop compliqué pour Cole
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 28, 2025
Angles? Never heard of 'em#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/vCQ2fxyCPD
Like Caufield, several other Badgers are also part of teams competing for an Eastern Conference playoff berth, as five teams are within five points of the second wild card spot. Among these teams are the New York Rangers (79 points), Columbus Blue Jackets (77 points) and Detroit Red Wings (75 points), who are each home to one former UW skater.
K'Andre Miller, a defenseman on the Rangers, has seven goals and 23 points in 69 games played, racking up two goals and five points in his last five contests.
KEY FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET. pic.twitter.com/HtdpES3zeJ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 22, 2025
Forward Luke Kunin, who was traded to the Blue Jackets from the San Jose Sharks during the NHL trade deadline in March, has 11 goals and 18 points in 74 games played.
First #CBJ games in Nationwide for these two pic.twitter.com/u9qvqww9Ch
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 13, 2025
Forward Craig Smith was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline, and he has nine goals and 18 points in 51 games played this year. In his first 11 games with the Red Wings, Smith has two assists.
GOOD NIGHT, HOCKEYTOWN. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/EUYiYHZ3Oe
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 25, 2025
Jake McCabe and the Toronto Maple Leafs are currently at the top of the Atlantic Division with 96 points. In 66 games played, the defenseman has two goals and 23 points.
Short-handed goal for Toronto!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 30, 2025
Scored by Auston Matthews with 19:05 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Jake McCabe.
Los Angeles: 1
Toronto: 1#TORvsLAK #GoKingsGo #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/zEkFOkzWxn
Former Badgers in the pros have also been doing well at the AHL and ECHL levels.
2025 UW graduate, forward Owen Lindmark, made his AHL debut with the San Diego Gulls on March 14. In nine games played for the Gulls, Lindmark has one assist, notching his first AHL point on April 2.
Great to see @owenlindmark get into his first two pro games over the weekend. https://t.co/SE4sQlsF4m
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 17, 2025
Fellow 2025 graduate Ryland Mosley made his AHL debut for the Cleveland Monsters on March 23. In his second AHL game on March 29, the forward, along with fellow former Badgers Roman Ahcan and Joseph LaBate, played on the same line together.
The Monsters have four total former Badgers, including defenseman Corson Cuelemans, who has been out of the lineup with an injury since January.
The Badger line!!! https://t.co/n67A5VScnU
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 30, 2025
After two AHL games played this year, Mosley is still working toward his first AHL point.
LaBate, who played six games for the Blue Jackets in the NHL this year before returning to the Monsters in early March, has eight goals and 19 points in 43 AHL games played.
last but not least, Luca's goal!
— Cleveland Pierogies (@monstershockey) March 27, 2025
🍎: Pyyhtia & LaBate pic.twitter.com/rfHi1vUPcg
Ahcan has 15 goals and 24 points in 59 games played to rank sixth on the team. On March 21, the forward reached a milestone, playing in his 200th AHL game.
gotta keep an eye out for Ro 🚨
— Cleveland Pierogies (@monstershockey) March 27, 2025
🍎: Pyyhtia & Pearson pic.twitter.com/ssuy8b7FWO
In 59 games played for the Wheeling Nailers, the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, forward Mathieu De St. Phalle leads the team with 53 points (20g, 33a).
🚨 NOW THAT WAS PRETTY 🚨
— x - Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) March 14, 2025
Matty De St. Phalle gets the party started after some nifty puck movement from the Nailers to make it 1-0!
🚨 Matty De St. Phalle
🍎 Matthew Quercia
🍏 Gabe Klassen #ForgeTheFuture pic.twitter.com/2wVygdWDAk
Forward Carson Bantle has played with both the AHL's Grand Rapid Griffins and the ECHL's Toledo Walleye this year. Bantle has one goal in 16 games played for the Griffins and 21 goals and 29 points in 39 games played for the Walleye.
2⃣1⃣ GOALS FOR 2⃣1⃣ @BantleCarson https://t.co/OPjKwjewSD pic.twitter.com/PeFCpu5GtJ
— x - Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) March 6, 2025
In 31 games played for the Iowa Heartlanders, the ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, goaltender Kyle McClellan has 13 wins, accumulating a 2.60 goals-allowed on average and a .899 save percentage. His performance this season has helped the Heartlanders to their first-ever Kelly Cup playoff berth in franchise history.
See you tomorrow for round three 😈#GoLanders🦌 #DefendTheForest pic.twitter.com/0unCgHYawG
— x - Iowa Heartlanders (@GoHeartlanders) March 23, 2025
Cameron Hughes, a forward on the AHL's Texas Stars, has 21 goals and 53 points in 63 games played to rank third on the roster.
give Hughesy time & space and you'll regret it! pic.twitter.com/NgLcm0mFmA
— x - Texas Stars (@TexasStars) March 23, 2025
