Todd Krygier Article in The Hockey News
I found this article in the latest edition of The Hockey News. I thought everyone would like to hear what the former Capital was up to these days.
Making it Stick
Krygier made good on his second NHL call-up, turning it into a serviceable nine-year career
March 9, 2007
By Roman J. Uschak
(Photo Courtesy of www.novi.org)
The University of Connecticut has a storied reputation for basketball and a growing one for football, but it also once turned out a pretty good hockey player in Todd Krygier.
A native of Chicago Heights, Ill., who grew up in Michigan, Krygier is second among all-time Huskies scorers with 99 goals and 200 points. He was there from 1984 to '88, when Connecticut played its home games on an outdoor rink. Krygier then parlayed his selection by the Hartford Whalers in the 1988 NHL supplemental draft (now defunct) into a 12-year pro career after leaving early from UConn, where his brothers also starred.
"I had a year (of eligibility) left and was working on my (masters degree in business)", Krygier said.
"During that year, the scouts were looking at me and coming to my games. I just wanted to keep playing."
After a year-and-a-half apprenticeship in the American League, Krygier burst onto the NHL scene the following season, tallying 18 goals and 30 points in 58 games with Hartford.
"I made the Whalers in camp, but was sent back to work on a few things," said Krygier, who never topped the offensive totals he put up in his rookie year. "I didn't want to go down again and the next time I was called up, I stayed nine years."
He remained in Hartford for one more season before stops in Washington and Anaheim.
Krygier developed asthma during his playing days, but didn't let it deter him. With treatment, the condition eventually went away.
The last NHL stop for Krygier was a familiar one, as he returned for one last go with the Caps. He dressed for 13 games during Washington's run to the 1998 Cup final, where the Capitals were swept in four games by Detroit.
He retired in 2000 following two seasons with the old International League's Orlando Solar Bears.
"That was a great experience," said Krygier, who helped Orlando to within one win of a Turner Cup title. "I became a better person. I learned a lot of life lessons and met some great friends I still have now."
Krygier, 41, is back in Northville, Mich., with his wife Kim and their five children, where he runs his own State Farm auto insurance agency. He also coaches the hockey team at Novi High School and has mentored his three sons in youth hockey at various points.
"One of my daughters also plays hockey," Krygier laughed, "and she's been all over me to coach her, too."
Making it Stick
Krygier made good on his second NHL call-up, turning it into a serviceable nine-year career
March 9, 2007
By Roman J. Uschak
(Photo Courtesy of www.novi.org)
The University of Connecticut has a storied reputation for basketball and a growing one for football, but it also once turned out a pretty good hockey player in Todd Krygier.
A native of Chicago Heights, Ill., who grew up in Michigan, Krygier is second among all-time Huskies scorers with 99 goals and 200 points. He was there from 1984 to '88, when Connecticut played its home games on an outdoor rink. Krygier then parlayed his selection by the Hartford Whalers in the 1988 NHL supplemental draft (now defunct) into a 12-year pro career after leaving early from UConn, where his brothers also starred.
"I had a year (of eligibility) left and was working on my (masters degree in business)", Krygier said.
"During that year, the scouts were looking at me and coming to my games. I just wanted to keep playing."
After a year-and-a-half apprenticeship in the American League, Krygier burst onto the NHL scene the following season, tallying 18 goals and 30 points in 58 games with Hartford.
"I made the Whalers in camp, but was sent back to work on a few things," said Krygier, who never topped the offensive totals he put up in his rookie year. "I didn't want to go down again and the next time I was called up, I stayed nine years."
He remained in Hartford for one more season before stops in Washington and Anaheim.
Krygier developed asthma during his playing days, but didn't let it deter him. With treatment, the condition eventually went away.
The last NHL stop for Krygier was a familiar one, as he returned for one last go with the Caps. He dressed for 13 games during Washington's run to the 1998 Cup final, where the Capitals were swept in four games by Detroit.
He retired in 2000 following two seasons with the old International League's Orlando Solar Bears.
"That was a great experience," said Krygier, who helped Orlando to within one win of a Turner Cup title. "I became a better person. I learned a lot of life lessons and met some great friends I still have now."
Krygier, 41, is back in Northville, Mich., with his wife Kim and their five children, where he runs his own State Farm auto insurance agency. He also coaches the hockey team at Novi High School and has mentored his three sons in youth hockey at various points.
"One of my daughters also plays hockey," Krygier laughed, "and she's been all over me to coach her, too."
Todd Krygier's career statistics courtesy of www.hockeydb.com.
Left Wing
Born Oct 12 1965 -- Northville, MI
Height 5.11 -- Weight 180 -- Shoots L
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1987-88 | U. of Connecticut | NCAA | Statistics Unavailable | |||||||||
| 1987-88 | New Haven Nighthawks | AHL | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 24 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1988-89 | Binghamton Whalers | AHL | 76 | 26 | 42 | 68 | 77 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1989-90 | Binghamton Whalers | AHL | 12 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1989-90 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 58 | 18 | 12 | 30 | 52 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 1990-91 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 72 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 95 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991-92 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 67 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 107 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 1992-93 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 77 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 60 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1993-94 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 66 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 60 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1994-95 | Anaheim Mighty Ducks | NHL | 35 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1995-96 | Anaheim Mighty Ducks | NHL | 60 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 70 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1995-96 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 16 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| 1996-97 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 47 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 37 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1997-98 | Portland Pirates | AHL | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1997-98 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 45 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 30 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 1998-99 | Orlando Solar Bears | IHL | 65 | 19 | 40 | 59 | 82 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 16 |
| 1999-00 | Orlando Solar Bears | IHL | 28 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| NHL Totals | 543 | 100 | 143 | 243 | 533 | 48 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 40 | ||
3 comments:
If Krygier ever had the skills to match with his amazing speed, he'd have been an amazing talent.
Fitting that you found this article on the day when his 2 major employers, the Whalers and the Caps, play one another. Nice catch.
I didn't even think about that. Good timing huh?
This article was really nice. I am friends with Todd and must say when he talks about his hockey days he does so with humility. At times, I have seen his eyes light up about some of his days but most of the time his focus is on helping the kids that love to play hockey have the same passion that he does for the game. Especially with his children. Thanks again for reminding us of Todd's playing days and his contribution to the game.
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