Topic: Mike Knuble

Michael Rudolph Knuble (pronounced /kɨˈnuːbəl/ ki-NOO-bəl; born July 4, 1972) is a Canadian American professional ice hockey right winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He was raised in Kentwood, Michigan by his Latvian-American parents. He has a younger brother named Steve who currently lives in Huntsville, Alabama. Knuble was drafted 76th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He played the next four years at the University of Michigan and was given Second Team CCHA All-Star honors in 1994 and 1995 and NCAA West All-American Team honors in 1995. Following his collegiate career, he made his professional debut in the 1995 Calder Cup playoffs with the Adirondack Red Wings. He spent the entire 1995–96 season and most of the 1996–97 season with Adironack before making his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings on March 26, 1997. He played a total of 9 regular season games in 1996–97 and none in the playoffs. Detroit won the Stanley Cup that season, but Knuble's name wasn't engraved on the Cup since he had not played enough games. However, Detroit repeated as Cup Champions in 1997–98, his first full season in the NHL, and though he only played three playoff games, his name was engraved on the Cup. Knuble was included on both Stanley Cup winning team pictures in 1997 and 1998.

Prior to the 1998–99 season, Detroit traded Knuble to the New York Rangers for a 2000 2nd round draft choice (Tomas Kopecky). Knuble played in all 82 games with the Rangers that season, recording 15 goals and 20 assists. With a month to go in the 1999–2000 season, the Rangers traded him to the Boston Bruins for Rob DiMaio. After posting 20 points in 82 games in 2000–01 and 14 points in 54 games in 2001–02, Knuble found himself playing left wing on a line with Joe Thornton and Glen Murray beginning in 2002–03. He scored 30 goals and 29 assists in 75 games, good for third on the Bruins. After another solid season in 2003–04, 21 goals and 25 assists in 82 games, Knuble signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in the off-season. He played for Linköpings HC of the Elitserien during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, scoring 26 goals and assisting on 13 others in 49 games.