NHL's Most Traveled Journeymen: Mike Sillinger

Sillinger played for a record 12 teams throughout his career and was traded a record nine times.

Veteran NHL centerman Mike Sillinger ended his career as the NHL's most accomplished journeyman. By the time he hung up his skates in 2009, he had played 1,049 games and accumulated 548 points with a total of 12 teams literally from coast to coast. As far west as the Vancouver Canucks to as far east as the New York Islanders.

That type of crazy career just begs for a closer look. So, let’s do just that with the first of many epic stories in our new series, the NHL’s Most Traveled Journeymen.

The Journey Begins: Sillinger Drafted 11th Overall By the Red Wings

After dominating his draft year in 1989 with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he put up 53 goals and 131 points in 72 games, Sillinger was drafted 11th overall by the Detroit Red Wings. He returned to the Western Hockey League (WHL) the following season and continued to rack up the points putting together another campaign of 57 goals and 129 points. He also led the Pats in scoring during the playoffs with 12 goals and 22 points in 11 games.

Mike Sillinger, Detroit Red Wings, Oct. 31, 1992 (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)

After that performance, he made the Red Wings at the beginning of the 1990-91 season, but only ended up playing three games before they sent him back to the Pats.