Craig Millar
Encyclopedia
Craig Millar is a Canadian
former professional ice hockey
defenceman
who played in the NHL
with the Edmonton Oilers
, Nashville Predators
, and Tampa Bay Lightning
.
Born in Winnipeg
, Manitoba, Millar was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres
in the 9th round, 225th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
while playing for the Swift Current Broncos
of the WHL
. After being drafted Millar returned to the Broncos and played another 2 seasons with the team, scoring 77 points in 72 games his final season with the team.
For the 1996–1997 season Millar turned pro and joined the Rochester Americans
, the Sabres minor league affiliate. After 64 games with the Americans Millar was traded along with Barrie Moore to the Edmonton Oilers for Miroslav Satan
. Millar made his NHL Debut with the Oilers that year, appearing in 1 game. The next 2 seasons saw Millar split time between the Oilers and their minor league affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs
.
Prior to the 1999–2000 season Millar was traded to the Nashville Predators for a 3rd round draft pick (which would turn out to be Mike Comrie
). That year he enjoyed his best NHL season, appearing in 57 games and scoring 14 points. The following season Millar played part of the year in the minors and 5 games with the Predators before being released. He was picked up by the Tampa Bay Lightning and played 16 games with the team.
For the 2001–2002 season Millar played briefly in Germany
and Slovakia
before retiring in 2002.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
.
Born in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba, Millar was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
in the 9th round, 225th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
1994 NHL Entry Draft
The 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
while playing for the Swift Current Broncos
Swift Current Broncos
The Swift Current Broncos are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Founded during 1967 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Broncos played seven seasons before relocating to Lethbridge from 1974 to 1986 as the Lethbridge Broncos...
of the WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. After being drafted Millar returned to the Broncos and played another 2 seasons with the team, scoring 77 points in 72 games his final season with the team.
For the 1996–1997 season Millar turned pro and joined the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
, the Sabres minor league affiliate. After 64 games with the Americans Millar was traded along with Barrie Moore to the Edmonton Oilers for Miroslav Satan
Miroslav Satan
Miroslav Šatan is a Slovak professional ice hockey right winger for HC Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga.-Pre-NHL:In 1991–92, he played for the local HC Topolcany and did remarkably well, as he scored 30 goals and had 22 assists in just 31 games. He then graduated to the senior division...
. Millar made his NHL Debut with the Oilers that year, appearing in 1 game. The next 2 seasons saw Millar split time between the Oilers and their minor league affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
.
Prior to the 1999–2000 season Millar was traded to the Nashville Predators for a 3rd round draft pick (which would turn out to be Mike Comrie
Mike Comrie
Michael William "Mike" Comrie is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre.He is married to Hilary Duff.-Playing career:Mike Comrie was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and attended Jasper Place High School...
). That year he enjoyed his best NHL season, appearing in 57 games and scoring 14 points. The following season Millar played part of the year in the minors and 5 games with the Predators before being released. He was picked up by the Tampa Bay Lightning and played 16 games with the team.
For the 2001–2002 season Millar played briefly in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
before retiring in 2002.
Career statistics
| Regular season | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||||||
| 1996–1997 | Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||
| 1997–1998 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 11 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 | ||||||
| 1998–1999 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 24 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 19 | ||||||
| 1999–2000 | Nashville Predators Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 57 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 28 | ||||||
| 2000–2001 | Nashville-Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
NHL | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | ||||||
| 5 Years | Totals | NHL | 114 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 73 | ||||||