Patrick Rissmiller
Patrick Rissmiller | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 26, 1978 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey forward (retired), development coach, scout |
| Years active | 2002–2015 (player), post-2015 (coach/scout) |
| Known for | Playing in the NHL for San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers, Florida Panthers; coaching with New Jersey Devils; scouting with Anaheim Ducks |
Patrick Rissmiller (born October 26, 1978) is a retired American professional ice hockey forward who competed in the National Hockey League representing the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers, and Florida Panthers. Following seven years as a development coach with the New Jersey Devils, he transitioned to a scouting role for the Anaheim Ducks during the 2022–23 season.
Early life
Born in Boston, Rissmiller grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts as the fourth among eight siblings born to David and Patricia Rissmiller. He initially attended Belmont High School before transferring to Williston Northampton School and subsequently completed a postgraduate year at The Hill School. He then enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross.
Amateur
During his tenure at the College of the Holy Cross, Rissmiller distinguished himself as one of the institution’s premier male hockey athletes. His most productive campaign was in 2001–2002, where he amassed 16 goals alongside 30 assists. Recognized for his robust physical style and two-way effectiveness, he accumulated a total of 53 goals and 90 assists over 131 games. Despite going undrafted, he secured his initial professional contract with the San Jose Sharks.
Professional
In the 2002–03 season of the AHL, Rissmiller notched 14 goals and contributed 26 assists across 72 contests with the Cleveland Barons. He made his NHL debut with San Jose during the 2003–04 season but primarily played in the AHL, maintaining consistent offensive production. Throughout the NHL lockout in 2004–05, he tallied 21 goals and 23 assists while with Cleveland. The following year, in 2005–06, he registered 15 goals and 32 assists before injuries within the Sharks roster afforded him NHL playing time. In the subsequent season, he added 7 goals and 15 assists for San Jose, including scoring his inaugural playoff goal in April 2006.
Rissmiller secured a two-year contract worth $990,000 in August 2006. Despite sustaining injuries during playoff action, he persevered and delivered a crucial overtime game-winning goal during the 2006–07 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Nashville.
On July 1, 2008, he inked a three-year deal valued at $3 million with the New York Rangers. An injury sustained in his Rangers debut curtailed his appearances to just two games before being assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. He concluded that season ranking third in scoring on the team with 54 points. The following year, after a brief stint back with Hartford, he was reassigned to another AHL team, the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he finished second in team points with a total of 45.
Rissmiller was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers on August 2, 2010, alongside Donald Brashear in exchange for Todd White. Unable to claim a spot on Atlanta’s NHL roster, he was initially assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, then moved to the Lake Erie Monsters. While with Lake Erie, he set a franchise record by scoring four goals in a single game on December 3, 2010. After accumulating 30 points over 42 games for Lake Erie, he appeared once more in the NHL for Atlanta in February 2011 before being traded to the Florida Panthers.
On July 12, 2011, Rissmiller signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. His season was hampered by injuries limiting him to play with their AHL affiliate, Lake Erie Monsters, where he recorded 29 points in 49 games.
After negotiations delayed the start of the NHL's 2012–13 season due to a lockout, Rissmiller signed a professional try-out agreement with the Worcester Sharks in January of 2013. Following six games and two assists there, he joined another AHL team—the Rochester Americans—also on a try-out basis.
He wrapped up his playing career competing for two seasons with Italian Serie A club Ritten-Renon.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1993-94 | Belmont High School | USHS-MA | 2 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||
| 1998–99 | Holy Cross | MAAC | 34 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Holy Cross | MAAC | 35 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Holy Cross | MAAC | 29 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Holy Cross | MAAC | 33 | 16 | 30 | 46 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Cincinnati Cyclones | ECHL | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 72 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 75 | 14 | 31 | 45 | 66 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||
Awards and honors
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| All-MAAC Rookie Team selection | 1998-99 |
| All-MAAC First Team honoree | 2001-02 |
| Walter Brown Award Finalist recognition | 2001-02 |
| Named an AHL PlanetUSA All-Star | 2006 |
| Awarded Cleveland Barons Most Valuable Player | 2005–06 |
| Champion of the Italian Championship | 2013-14 |
| Winner of the Italian Cup | 2013-14 2014-15 |