Hartnett: Hockey Nomad Mueller May Have Found A Home With Rangers

By Sean Hartnett
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Since making his NHL debut Dec. 28, 2010, Chris Mueller has been a wandering nomad, traveling from city to city hoping to force his way onto a roster for a full season.

Between 2010 and 2013, Mueller bounced back and forth between the Nashville Predators and the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, never playing more than 18 NHL games in a single season. Last season, Mueller was able to suit up nine times for the Dallas Stars, but spent 60 games representing the AHL's Texas Stars.

The 28-year-old forward was surprised to receive a call from the Eastern Conference champion Rangers this past offseason. He had spent much of his professional career living out of a suitcase in Midwestern cities like Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Milwaukee as well as Southern municipalities like Cedar Park, Texas.

"It was awesome to get a call from the Rangers, knowing the success they've had," Mueller said. "I was surprised when I got a call from the Rangers. I've been playing in the West my whole career. Being from Buffalo and being familiar with New York, it was exciting and close to my family. When I got the opportunity, I jumped right on it -- and here I am. I couldn't be more happy and more thankful."

After a one-game stop in minor league Hartford, the Rangers called up Mueller for his season debut ahead of a tough matchup against the big-bodied San Jose Sharks on Oct. 19.

"I've been through this a number of years now," Mueller said. "Up and down, where every game counts. I know that's a cliché, but I've got to take advantage of every opportunity I get to prove to them I belong here for the whole year. Hopefully, I can do that and play a solid two-way game. You want to play and you want to prove that you belong here."

Prior to his Rangers debut, Mueller impressed head coach Alain Vigneault with his intelligent play throughout the preseason.

"His decisions with the puck are good," Vigneault said recently. "He seems like a smart player."

While Mueller did not get on the score sheet in his debut, he did win eight of nine face-offs.

He then captured the attention of Rangers fans on Tuesday night at Prudential Center against the rival Devils, playing a major role in the Blueshirts come-from-behind 4-3 overtime victory.

His third-period power play goal shifted the momentum back in the Rangers' corner." With his team down 3-1, Mueller slammed a cross-ice pass from Derick Brassard past Devils netminder Cory Schneider.

"They're giving me a lot of looks on the power play, which I'm very thankful for," Mueller said. "I'm trying to embrace that opportunity and take advantage of it. The rest will take care of itself if I play to my strengths and keep doing what I've done the past few years -- bringing skill and being sound defensively."

He later assisted on Kevin Klein's overtime winner as the Rangers escaped "The Rock" with a victory in the long and storied history of the Hudson River Rivalry. Mueller passed off to Chris Kreider, who then worked a little magic and executed a nifty drop-pass to Klein, who beat Schneider.

The center position has been a problem position for the Rangers since Derek Stepan suffered a broken left fibula on Sept. 24. Stepan was placed on long-term injured reserve on Oct. 6. He is eligible to be activated once 24 days and 10 games have passed. If healthy, Stepan could be back against St. Louis Blues on Nov. 3 at MSG.

Vigneault has experimented with Martin St. Louis, J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes and Mueller as stand-in centers. St. Louis has been moved back to his natural right wing and Miller was sent to AHL Hartford on Oct. 17.

Once Stepan returns, he, along with Brassard and Dominic Moore, will be locked-in at center. Mueller seems to have a leg up over Hayes in the competition for manning the final center spot.

Hayes went 0-for-10 at the face-off circle against the Devils on Tuesday night. Mueller fared better, winning 5 of 12. While Hayes could eventually develop into a dependable NHL center, he's probably better off on the wing at this stage of his career.

"This is nothing new for me," Mueller said. "Hopefully, I can play a good, stable game, win face-offs and help the team to success."

The Rangers might have discovered a diamond in the rough in Mueller, who has shown he can handle specific roles.

"It's a business and it's a numbers game," Mueller said. "Sometimes you fall outside the numbers. You know you're going to get an opportunity. When you get sent down, you have to go down with a good attitude. The only thing you can control is how you play. I've had a lot of practice the last four years of going down (to the minors). Maybe early in my career it was tough, where I didn't know how to act when I was down there. It's a long season. When opportunities come along, you've got to take advantage of it."

After years of toiling in the minors, Mueller is taking advantage of his unique opportunity in New York.

Follow Sean on Twitter at @HartnettHockey

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