The Players: Roster & Profiles – Depth Chart – Stats
Position: C
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 225
Birth Date: 11/27/1976
Birth Country: Canada (Cornwall, Ont)
Year Drafted: 1995
Round Drafted: 1
Overall Choice: 4
Salary 2003/04: $800,000.00
HW 2004 Mid-Season Scouting Report
I gave him the nickname Shrug earlier on, and except for a game or two, he’s lived up to it to the fullest. Recently he cleared waivers and that’s a direct sign that his days as a Hab are just about up. The only reason he played in the most recent game was a series of injuries that left the Habs short. It’s such a shame too when you see his size and how he plays on *some* nights.
When he puts in full effort and finishes checks, forechecks strongly, and plays with intensity and an edge, he looks something like a player who might have been drafted fourth overall. Most nights though, he’s a fringe guy who barely makes an impression on the game.
Sure, he plays within the system, but barely. Maybe he needs more time to develop and figure out that only the hardest of work keeps you in the NHL, but I don’t think that time will be in Montreal. His days are numbered, and few will shed a tear when he leaves.
Chad Kilger was drafted fourth overall in the 1995 Entry Draft by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. That year, he made his NHL debut on October 9 with an assist against the Jets. On October 22, he scored his first goal against the Jets’ Tim Cheveldae. After 45 games, Chad was traded on February 7 with Oleg Tverdovsky and a third-round draft pick to the Winnipeg Jets for Teemu Selänne, Marc Chouinard and a fourth-round draft pick. At season’s end, Chad finished his rookie season with 17 points in 74 games between the two teams. In the playoffs, he scored one goal in four games. In 1996-97, Chad moved with the franchise to Phoenix (now the Coyotes) and tallied seven points in 24 games. In 1997-98, he was traded on March 4 with Jayson More to the Chicago Blackhawks for Keith Carney and Jim Cummins. In 32 games between the two teams, he scored 12 points.
In 1998-99, Chad was traded on March 20 with Daniel Cleary, Ethan Moreau and Christian Laflamme to the Edmonton Oilers for Boris Mironov, Dean McAmmond and Jonas Elofsson. In 77 games between the two teams, Chad scored 27 points and knocked 157 hits. In 1999-2000, Chad played 40 games for the Oilers and tallied five points and 60 hits while averaging just 8:33 minutes of ice time per game. In 2000-01, Chad was traded on December 19 to the Montréal Canadiens for Sergei Zholtok. After averaging less than nine minutes per game in 34 matchs with the Oilers, he then averaged more than 17 minutes per contest in 43 games with the Canadiens. He tallied 32 points and 200 hits in 77 games.