Chicago Blackhawks Throwback Thursday: Remember Kip Miller

Research for a different Chicago Blackhawks post has led to this one

While doing research for this week’s Chicago Blackhawks T rivia Tuesday, I came across one of the former Hobey Baker Award winners to play for the Blackhawks. This week’s Throwback Thursday will focus on Kip Miller.

Miller was a fourth-round pick of the Quebec Nordiques in 1987. Miller went to Michigan State University from 1986 to 1989-90. During his college career at MSU, he racked up 116 goals and 145 assists. His best season was the 1989-90 season where he scored scored 48 goals and added 53 assists.

Miller won the Hobey Baker in 1990 and was the first player in MSU history to win the award. His cousin Ryan Miller would become the second player from MSU to win the Hobey Baker in 2001. Drew Miller, Kip’s other cousin, did not win the award but currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings.

Making it to the majors

Kip Miller would join the Nordiques for 1990-91 season, his first of two in Quebec. He would play 49 games with the Nordiques, scoring nine goals and contributing 13 assists.

After stints in the AHL and IHL (International Hockey League), Miller would join the Minnesota North Stars for three games in 1991-92. He had one goal and two assists. In the 1991-92 season, he appeared in 39 games between Quebec and Minnesota, scoring six goals and recording 12 assists.

The 1992-93 season was spent in the IHL with the Kalamazoo Wings. In 61 games, Miller had 17 goals and 39 assists with the Wings. In 1993-94, Miller would play 71 games with the Kansas City Blades of the IHL.

He would make his return to the NHL later that season with the San Jose Sharks. In 11 games with the Sharks, Miller recorded two goals and two assists. In 1994-95, he spent the majority of the season with Denver Grizzlies of the IHL. He would again have a short stint in the NHL at this time, playing eight games with the New York Islanders. In that time, Miller had one assist.

Making his way to Chicago

In 1995-96, Miller played 71 games with the Indianapolis Ice before joining the Blackhawks for 10 games. In 10 games with the Blackhawks, he had one goal and four assists. The ’Hawks on the season were 40-28-14.

Miller would stay in Chicago in 1996-97, but with the Wolves. The Wolves were in the IHL back then. He would continue his IHL tour playing with the Indianapolis Ice and Utah Grizzlies before rejoining the Islanders in 1997-98. He had one goal and three assists.

Miller’s stint with the Blackhawks and Islanders must have impressed the Penguins, as he spent the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons in Pittsburgh. In two seasons, he amassed 61 points with the Penguins.

He would play 44 games with the Penguins in 1999-2000 before moving to the Anaheim Ducks for 30 games. For the year, Miller had 42 points between both clubs. Pittsburgh brought Miller back in 2000-01 for 33 games, when he notched three goals and eight assists.

In 2001-02, Miller spent a significant portion of his ice time in the IHL. He spent 41 games with Grand Rapid Griffins. He also played 37 games with the NHL’s Isles.

Next: Blackhawks' 5 Reasons For Pessimism

Miller would get two more bites at the NHL dream as he spent 72 games with the Washington Capitals in 2002-03 and 2003-04. In 138 games with the Capitals, Miller put up 21 goals in 60 games. Miller would play out the rest of his hockey days in the AHL because the IHL folded in 2001.

For his career, Miller appeared in 449 NHL games, scoring 74 goals and recording 165 assists for 239 NHL points.

Home/All Time Blackhawks