Michael Cammalleri

Michael Cammalleri
Michael Cammalleri
Born	June 8, 1982 (age 44); Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Professional ice hockey player (retired)
Years active	2002–2018
Known for	Playing fifteen seasons in the NHL, scoring the first regular-season NHL goal in Europe, Montreal Canadiens' 20,000th franchise goal

Michael Anthony Cammalleri (born June 8, 1982) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey athlete who played fifteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) across five different franchises. He was selected 49th overall by the Los Angeles Kings during the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Cammalleri made his NHL debut with the Kings in 2002 and notably scored the inaugural regular-season goal in an NHL game held in Europe in 2007. After spending the 2008–09 season with the Calgary Flames, he signed with the Montreal Canadiens, where he netted the team's 20,000th goal in 2009 and matched a playoff series goal-scoring record in 2010. In 2012, he was traded mid-game back to Calgary, a rare transaction. Upon expiration of his contract in 2014, he agreed to a five-year contract with the New Jersey Devils but was bought out after three seasons. Subsequently, Cammalleri returned to the Kings on a one-year deal, marking his second stint with two NHL teams.

On the international stage, Cammalleri represented Canada four times, securing bronze and silver medals at the 2001 and 2002 World Junior Championships, respectively, and earning best forward honors in 2002. He also captured gold at the 2007 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Recognized as an all-star during his collegiate and AHL career, he participated in the record-setting 2001 "Cold War" outdoor match. Additionally, Cammalleri is known for his philanthropic efforts supporting children and military personnel.

Early life

Hailing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Cammalleri was raised in a secular family with mixed Italian and Jewish ancestry. His father, Leo, is Sicilian and Catholic, while his mother, Ruth, is Jewish; her parents were survivors of the Holocaust. He has one sibling, a sister named Melanie.

During his youth, Cammalleri showed talent in soccer, baseball, and golf but ultimately concentrated on hockey, primarily playing for the Toronto Red Wings of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). He competed with this team at the 1996 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.

Although selected by the OHL's Toronto St. Michael's Majors, Cammalleri opted to play Junior A hockey with the Bramalea Blues of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL) to preserve NCAA eligibility. At just 15 years old, he earned rookie of the year accolades and later was recognized as an all-star and top draft prospect after tallying 103 points across 41 games.

At age 15, he committed to attend the University of Michigan on a full hockey scholarship. Before enrolling, he graduated early from The Country Day School in King City at age 17 and pursued studies in sports management and communications at Michigan.

University of Michigan

Cammalleri began his collegiate hockey career with the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team in 1999, scoring 13 goals over 39 games during his freshman year. In his sophomore season (2000–01), he led Michigan with 29 goals and earned first-team honors in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The Wolverines advanced to the Frozen Four but were defeated in the semifinals by Boston College. That season also saw him named to the NCAA west second All-American team.

Though drafted by the Los Angeles Kings as their second-round pick (49th overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Cammalleri remained at Michigan for another season as an alternate captain expected to spearhead the offense. On October 1, 2001, he participated in the "Cold War" outdoor game against Michigan State, which set a world attendance record at that time with 74,554 spectators. Despite suffering from a hip-flexor injury, he contributed to all three goals during a 3–3 tie.

In the 2001–02 season, Cammalleri scored 23 goals and accumulated 44 points over just 29 games, leading Michigan to win the CCHA conference championship. His performance earned him CCHA second-team all-star recognition and NCAA first-team All-American honors. At the West Regional tournament, he was distinguished as forward all-star and most valuable player as he guided Michigan back to the Frozen Four. The Wolverines were again eliminated in the national semifinal by the University of Minnesota.

Los Angeles Kings

Cammalleri opted to skip his senior collegiate year and signed with the Kings prior to the 2002–03 NHL season. After attending their training camp, he was assigned to the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, where he tallied 14 points across 9 games before being called up to the NHL on November 7, 2002. His NHL debut came against the Ottawa Senators, during which he earned his first assist, and a week later, he netted his inaugural NHL goal facing the Edmonton Oilers. Throughout that season, he alternated between the Kings and Monarchs, appearing in 28 NHL contests and recording 8 points, while amassing 20 points in 13 AHL games before a concussion prematurely ended his campaign on January 28, 2003.

During the 2003–04 season, Cammalleri continued shuttling between the two squads. The NHL lockout resulted in him spending the entire 2004–05 campaign with Manchester, where he set franchise benchmarks by scoring 46 goals and accumulating 109 points—ranking second in the AHL only behind Jason Spezza. His outstanding performance earned him a starting position in the 2005 AHL All-Star Game, selection to the second All-Star team, and the prestigious Willie Marshall Award for leading goal scorer in the league.

In the 2005–06 season, Cammalleri established himself as a full-time NHL player, topping the Kings’ scoring charts with 26 goals over 80 games. He further elevated his output to 34 goals and 80 points during the 2006–07 season, securing the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the team’s most valuable player. Contract discussions stalled amid his pursuit of $6 million annually compared to the team’s $2.6 million proposal. Ultimately, salary arbitration granted him a two-year contract worth $3.1 million and $3.6 million respectively.

The Kings inaugurated their following season in London, England—the first occasion that regular-season NHL matches were held in Europe—where Cammalleri scored twice, including the first goal ever recorded on European ice, contributing to a 4–1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. He began robustly with ten goals in as many games but was later hindered by a rib injury and a scoring slump, concluding with only nine additional goals for the rest of the season.

Calgary and Montreal

After a contentious arbitration process, Cammalleri was traded to the Calgary Flames during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft as part of a three-team transaction. Teaming up with Jarome Iginla, he led Calgary by netting 39 goals and totaling 82 points throughout the 2008–09 NHL season. On November 27, 2008, he achieved his first NHL hat-trick and reached his 100th career goal during a win against the Vancouver Canucks.

Due to limitations imposed by the salary cap, Calgary was unable to retain him, which led to Cammalleri signing a five-year contract worth $30 million with the Montreal Canadiens. Midway through the 2009–10 season, he scored Montreal's milestone 20,000th franchise goal. Despite a knee injury sidelining him for six weeks, he completed the season with 50 points across 65 games. In postseason play, Cammalleri matched a franchise record by scoring seven goals in a series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, helping Montreal advance to their first conference finals since 1993. He led all playoff participants with 13 goals, although Montreal eventually fell to the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round.

During the 2010–11 season, Cammalleri began serving a one-game suspension due to a preseason slashing incident and subsequently missed approximately one month after sustaining a separated shoulder. He made his return for the 2011 Heritage Classic outdoor game versus Calgary. At the start of the 2011–12 season, he scored the inaugural NHL regular-season goal at the newly opened MTS Centre but suffered a leg laceration that forced an early exit from that game. Amid ongoing team struggles, he publicly criticized Montreal’s "losing attitude," remarks that stirred controversy following translation misunderstandings.

On January 12, 2012, in an unusual mid-game transaction, Cammalleri was traded back to Calgary in exchange for Rene Bourque, Patrick Holland, and draft picks—a move considered both rare and unexpected. In his Flames return debut, he scored despite Calgary’s 4–1 defeat against Los Angeles. On February 13, 2013, he celebrated his 200th NHL goal by recording a hat-trick against the Dallas Stars. Cammalleri reached a career milestone of 500 NHL points on April 4, 2014, netting a goal in a victory over the Florida Panthers.

Later career

On July 1, 2014, Cammalleri committed to a five-year deal worth $25 million with the New Jersey Devils. During his initial campaign (2014–15), he topped the team’s scoring chart with 27 goals. After the 2015–16 season and the exit of GM Lou Lamoriello, Cammalleri became the first player for the Devils to don jersey number 13 since Robin Burns wore it with the Kansas City Scouts. He achieved his sixth NHL hat-trick on November 6, 2016, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Following two seasons marked by a decrease in offensive output, the Devils placed Cammalleri on waivers and subsequently bought out the remaining two years and $10 million of his contract on June 30, 2017.

Cammalleri returned to his original NHL team, the Los Angeles Kings, on July 1, 2017, signing a one-year contract valued at $1 million with performance bonuses. In the 2017–18 season, he tallied 3 goals and 7 points over 15 games before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Jussi Jokinen on November 14, 2017. Frequently utilized in a depth capacity and occasionally scratched while with the Kings, Cammalleri reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with his role prior to the trade. He netted his first goal for the Oilers on December 9, 2017, facing the Montreal Canadiens.

International play

Cammalleri made his international debut in 2000 representing Canada’s junior squad at the 2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He contributed four goals and six points across seven games as Canada earned the bronze medal. Returning in 2002, he led Canada to a silver finish while leading all players with 7 goals and 11 points, securing the tournament’s top forward honor. His first appearance with Canada’s senior team occurred at the 2006 World Championships, where he scored one goal and totaled five points in eight contests as Canada placed fourth. At the 2007 World Championships held in Moscow, Cammalleri added seven points to help Canada complete an undefeated 9–0 run en route to winning gold.

Playing style

Though measuring just five feet nine inches tall, Cammalleri’s teammates stress that his stature does not hinder his effectiveness. At Michigan, teammate Craig Murray remarked that many underestimate him based on size alone, yet "there's no one stronger out there." Cammalleri consistently strives to play larger than his physical dimensions would suggest. His Michigan coach, Red Berenson, concurred by describing Cammalleri’s style as if he were "6-foot-4" when controlling the puck and noted his ability to best any opponent in one-on-one situations. The Hockey News underscores his offensive talent and hockey IQ as major assets while acknowledging occasional lapses away from puck possession. A natural scorer, he is capable of playing both center and wing positions effectively. Throughout his career, injuries—particularly those affecting his shoulder and knee during his time in Montreal—have posed challenges.

Personal life

Cammalleri and his wife, Jennifer Bernaudo, are parents to two daughters: Chloe, born in 2011, and Mya, born in 2014. Since beginning his NHL career, the couple has actively contributed to various charitable organizations, primarily supporting children's causes such as the Starlight Children's Foundation, World Vision, and Toronto’s SickKids Foundation. During his time in Montreal, he also showed support for the armed forces through "Cammy's Heroes," an initiative that provided Canadiens game tickets to Quebec military personnel and their families. In recognition of his dedication to community involvement, the Canadiens awarded him the Jean Béliveau Trophy for the 2010–11 season.

Cammalleri’s cousin, Jonathan Erlichman, serves as a coach within Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Rays.

In 2009, while still competing in the NHL, Cammalleri co-established BioSteel Sports Nutrition, a company specializing in nutrition products designed specifically for athletes. His commitment to promoting safe training and proper nutrition is influenced by his personal experience managing ulcerative colitis, a condition he was diagnosed with at age 11.

Regular season and playoffs

Bold signifies leading the league

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997–98	Bramalea Blues	OPJHL	46	36	52	88	30	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Bramalea Blues	OPJHL	41	31	72	103	51	—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	University of Michigan	CCHA	39	13	13	26	32	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	University of Michigan	CCHA	42	29	32	61	24	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	University of Michigan	CCHA	29	23	21	44	28	—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Manchester Monarchs	AHL	13	5	15	20	12	—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	28	5	3	8	22	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	31	9	6	15	20	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Manchester Monarchs	AHL	41	20	19	39	28	1	0	1	1	0
2004–05	Manchester Monarchs	AHL	79	46	63	109	60	6	1	5	6	0
2005–06	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	80	26	29	55	50
2006–07	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	81	34	46	80	48
2007–08	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	63	19	28	47	30
2008–09	Calgary Flames	NHL	81	39	43	82	44	6	1	2	3	2
2009–10	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	65	26	24	50	16	19	13	6	19	6
2010–11	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	67	19	28	47	33	7	3	7	10	0
2011–12	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	38	9	13	22	10
2011–12	Calgary Flames	NHL	28	11	8	19	16
2012–13	Calgary Flames	NHL	44	13	19	32	25
2013–14	Calgary Flames	NHL	63	26	19	45	26
2014–15	New Jersey Devils	NHL	68	27	15	42	28
2015–16	New Jersey Devils	NHL	42	14	24	38	18
2016–17	New Jersey Devils	NHL	61	10	21	31	21
2017–18	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	15	3	4	7	4
2017–18	Edmonton Oilers	NHL	51	4	18	22	14
NHL totals			906	294	348	642	425	32	17	15	32	8

International

Year	Team	Tournament	Outcome	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001	Canada	WJC	Template:Bronze3	7	4	2	6	2
2002	Canada	WJC	Template:Silver2	7	7	4	11	10
2006	Canada	WC	4th place	8	1	4	5	4
2007	Canada	WC	Template:Gold1	9	4	3	7	6
Junior career totals				14	11	6	17	12
Senior career totals				17	5	7	12	10

Awards and honours

Award title	Season/Year	Notes
Junior Level Achievements
OPJHL Rookie of the Year	1997–98
OPJHL All-Star Selection	1998–99
College ice hockey Distinctions
All-CCHA First Team	2000–01 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
American Hockey Coaches Association West Second-Team All-American	2000–01 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
All-CCHA Second Team	2001–02 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
AHCA West First-Team All-American	2001–02 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
CCHA All-Tournament Team Member	2002 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
American Hockey League (AHL) Accolades
Second Team All-Star Recognition	2004–05 AHL season
Willie Marshall Award Recipient	2004–05
IIHF World U20 Championship Tournament All-Star Team Member	2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
IIHF World U20 Championship Best Forward Awardee	2002
Bill Libby Memorial Award Winner	2006–07 NHL season
Jean Béliveau Trophy Recipient	2010–11 NHL season

External links