The class of 2017-18 will always have a special place in the hearts of Toronto Marlies fans.

Toronto claimed the league title that season, sweeping all beside them in recording 54 wins in 76 games. The Marlies also won the first Calder Cup in franchise history.

A key cog in the wheel was the addition of Chris Mueller.

The New York native spent his formative years with Michigan University, winning a championship in the third of four seasons with the team.

Undrafted, Mueller made his professional debut for the Grand Rapids Griffins, playing two games after finishing up in the NCAA.
In the summer of 2008, the American forward earned a tryout with Lake Erie Monsters (AHL).
Mueller would be sent down to the ECHL during his rookie season and play six games for the Johnstown Chiefs in what would turn out to be the penultimate season for the team.

A move to Milwaukee the following summer would prove vital for the longevity of the centreman’s career.
During his second season with the Admirals, the Nashville Predators signed him to a one-year, two-way deal.

Having earned the contract with his excellent performances, Mueller made his NHL debut against Dallas on December 28, 2010.

Mueller would play four seasons in Milwaukee, suiting up in 262 games.
His 173 points (87G/86A) remain the second most in Admirals (AHL) franchise history.

In 2013-14, Mueller moved on to sign for the team he made his NHL debut against, the Dallas Stars.
His opportunities in the NHL were limited to nine games but Mueller would make his name back in the AHL.

The Texas Stars won the league title by a single point and expectations were high for the playoffs.
It was a battle to make the Calder Cup final, and the series against St. John’s was dramatic.
The teams split a pair of games in Texas before heading to St. John’s for three games.
Texas won all three games in overtime to win their first Calder Cup.

After putting up 57 points (25G/32A) through sixty regular season games, Mueller added a further eleven points in the playoffs.

A switch from West to East then occurred as Mueller signed for the New York Rangers.
The 2014-15 season would see Mueller play seven times for the Rangers, his last games in the NHL.

He would go on to spend solitary seasons in San Diego (Anaheim) and Tucson (Arizona) before earning the first and only two-year NHL deal of his career.

The Toronto Maple Leafs penned the veteran forward to a deal that would pay him over a million dollars at the minor league level over two seasons.

In his first campaign, Mueller finished third in the team’s regular season scoring (52 points) through 73 games.
On the run to clinching his second Calder Cup and first for Toronto, Mueller produced sixteen points in twenty games.

Mueller finished second in the Marlies’ scoring during the 2018-19 campaign with 65 points in 60 games.

Toronto came close to retaining their championships, falling to eventual winners Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference finals. The forward’s ten points in the playoffs were tied for second on the team.

The 2019-20 season would bring another first for Mueller.

Having signed with Tampa Bay Lightning, the Seneca native would be traded for the very first time in his career. It was a return to the Anaheim Ducks and the San Diego Gulls, a previously happy haunt for the forward.
That season was brought to an abrupt end by the Covid19 pandemic.

The shortened 2020-21 campaign was problematic for veteran players like Mueller.
With fewer teams in competitive action, no fans in attendance for the most part and no play-offs, organizations were cutting their cloth accordingly and not wishing to pay for high-end producers at the AHL level.

Mueller would eventually sign a deal with Lehigh Valley Phantoms after joining initially on a PTO.

Chris Mueller has since retired from professional hockey.
No announcement or fanfare.

Considering the length of his career and achievements, including being a two-time Calder Cup Champion, it’s a shame a ceremony to mark the occasion was not possible.

Regular Season records:

His 803 games played is tied for 39th in the AHL and Mueller is one of only 41 players to have featured in over 800 games.
Tied 57th in points (579)
Tied 47th in goals (247)
Tied 76th in assists (332)

Playoff records:

Tied 19th in most playoff games (101)
Tied 20th in points (74)
Tied 18th in goals (32)
Tied 24th in assists (42)

So what is Chris Mueller now up to after hanging up his skates?
According to LinkedIn, he’s currently a Sales Associate in Michigan but the draw of hockey has not been lost.

Mueller played in the inaugural season of 3ICE, a new six-team 3-on-3 hockey league which began in June.
He was part of Team Murphy which included Mark Auk, Patrick Kudla, Colton Hargrove, Eamon McAdam, Griffen Molino and Matt Revel, Canada.
Mueller led his team in scoring with 23 points but they would fall short on play-off weekend, losing in the semi-final but winning the consolation game to finish third.

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