“Kirk has expressed his desire to explore other opportunities within the National Hockey League, and we respect and support his decision,” Patrick explained. “We thank Kirk for his dedication, professionalism, and the many contributions he made during his three years with our organization. He is an experienced and highly respected coach whose work ethic, leadership, and commitment to player development had a meaningful impact on our team both on and off the ice. We wish him and his family all the best in the next chapter of his career.”
Muller, who had a lengthy career as an NHL player, had been on Washington’s coaching staff since 2023.
Kirk Muller Had A Lengthy Career As A Player
Muller was selected with the second overall pick in the 1984 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils, where he would play the first several seasons of his career before holding out of Training Camp because of a contract dispute in 1991. Eventually, he was traded traded along with Roland Melanson to the Montreal Canadiens for Stéphane Richer and Tom Chorske.
Muller was part of the 1993 Stanley Cup-wining squad of the Canadiens, which is their most recent Stanley Cup win to date as well as the most recent Stanley Cup win by a Canadian-based NHL team.
He was later traded to the New York Islanders, but wasn’t interested in playing for them, eventually finding himself traded as part of a three-team deal; he and Don Beaupre were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Martin Straka, Ken Belanger and the rights to Bryan Berard were traded to the Islanders. Meanwhile, goaltender Damian Rhodes and the rights to defenseman Wade Redden were traded to the Ottawa Senators.
After a stint with the Florida Panthers, Muller was traded to the Dallas Stars, where he would play the last several years of his NHL career, retiring in 2003. He made several appearances in the NHL All-Star Game, participating in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1993.
He was later named an assistant coach with the Canadiens, and also spent time in the AHL as coach of the Milwaukee Admirals. He later served as the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes and an assistant with the St. Louis Blues before coming back to Montreal.
Before arriving in Washington, he served on Darryl Sutter’s staff as an associate coach of the Calgary Flames.