Chris Mueller is a name synonymous with the American Hockey League.

He’s a two-time Calder Cup Champion with Texas Stars and Toronto Marlies, and a veteran forward who is highly sought after by every organisation in the league for winning, development and leadership qualities.

Ten different AHL clubs and games with three NHL teams tell you all you need to know.

For the first time in his career, Mueller found it hard to find a job in this shortened AHL season hit hard by the pandemic sweeping the world.

Winning wasn’t as much a priority this season, fewer teams were taking part, money around the league was tight and therefore fewer jobs were available.

The New York native ended up having to sign a PTO contract with Lehigh Valley Phantoms to get his foot in the door before earning an AHL contract.

An incredible situation given his experience, incredible scoring record and winning mentality.

In a season where many veterans are simply playing to put bread on the table and looking to earn a deal for next season, Mueller achieved another milestone in his illustrious AHL career.

Last Sunday’s game against Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins (May 9) was Mueller’s 800th regular season AHL career game.

He becomes just one of eighteen players in the American League to have played 800 or more games.

During a stoppage, team recognizes Chris Mueller for appearing in his 800th career AHL game.

Everyone on the bench up and banging their sticks off the team bench.

Then Scott Gordon heard yelling at a linesman arguing the icing call that just occurred before play resumed

— Tony Androckitis (@TonyAndrock) May 9, 2021

Fittingly the centreman scored twice on the historic occasion, reaching another minor milestone in the process.

GOAL. 5-1 #LVPhantoms. A power play goal!

Chris Mueller stuffs one home at the side of the net, and Lehigh Valley is running #WBSPens out of the building 4:38 into period two. pic.twitter.com/Lpp3CHHyzP

— Tony Androckitis (@TonyAndrock) May 9, 2021

Isaac Ratcliffe hasn't returned since taking this hit from Jordy Bellerive early in the 3rd period.

Ratcliffe headed to the locker room as #LVPhantoms scored, and was actually credited with a secondary assist on the Chris Mueller's goal. pic.twitter.com/WdVfkjF2Va

— Tony Androckitis (@TonyAndrock) May 9, 2021

Two power-play tallies for the 35-year-old took his career points tally to 578, thus placing him 25th in all-time AHL scorers.

The 246 career goals tie him at 21st on the all-time list with Trent Whitfield and if Mueller were to play for at least one more full season it’s not beyond his capabilities to reach the top ten in that category.

Mueller’s career also features 101 playoff games in which he’s accrued a further 74 points including 32 goals.

Once the current Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward is finished with his career he’ll go down as one of the league’s greats.

I don’t believe he’s ready to hang up the skates anytime soon and it would be no surprise to me if he’s back scoring goals when October rolls back around.

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