Topic: Bryan Smolinski

Bryan Smolinski (born December 27, 1971) is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, who originally drafted him 21st overall in 1990, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens. He has also previously played with the Port Huron Icehawks of the International Hockey League (IHL).

Smolinski grew up in Genoa, Ohio and played college hockey for the Michigan State Spartans. After his freshman year, he was drafted 21st overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. Smolinksi completed a four-year tenure with the Spartans before joining the Boston Bruins for the end of the 1992–93 season.

Playing in his rookie campaign in 1993–94 Smolinski tallied 31 goals and 51 points. His rookie goals total remains his NHL career-high. After a 31-point season in the shortened 1994–95 campaign, Smolinski was traded in the summer of 1995 alongside Glen Murray to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Kevin Stevens and Shawn McEachern. Playing in his only season with the Penguins in 1995–96, he scored a career-high 40 assists and 64 points. However, Smolinski and the Penguins could not agree on a new contract in the off-season and he subsequently sat out the start of the next season, playing for the Detroit Vipers of the IHL. In November 1996, general manager Mike Milbury of the New York Islanders traded defenceman Darius Kasparaitis and rookie Andreas Johansson for the rights to negotiate a contract with Smolinski.