Brian O'Neill (ice hockey, born 1988)

Brian O'Neill (born June 1, 1988) is an American professional ice hockey forward for Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL)

Brian O'Neill
O'Neill with the Manchester Monarchs in 2014
Born	(1988-06-01) June 1, 1988 (age 37) Yardley, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Right
SHL team Former teams	Luleå HF New Jersey Devils Jokerit
National team	United States
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2012–present

Playing career

Undrafted, O'Neill played collegiate hockey with Yale University of the ECAC before signing a one-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings after his senior year on March 15, 2012.^[1] and was assigned to the Manchester Monarchs.

In the 2014–15 season, his third full season within the Kings organization, O'Neill was assigned to continue to play with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. He enjoyed a breakout year offensively with the Monarchs, leading the team and the league with 58 assists and 80 points in 71 games to be awarded the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's most valuable player. In the post-season, O'Neill continued his offensive pace in recording 10 goals and 20 points to help the Monarchs dominate the league and capture the Calder Cup in their final season in the AHL.

Before the 2015–16 season, O'Neill attended the Kings' training camp and participated in the pre-season. O'Neill was unable to earn a roster spot in Los Angeles, and as a result, on the eve of the season, on October 6, 2015, the Kings traded O'Neill to the New Jersey Devils in return for a conditional 7th-round pick.^[2] O'Neill made his NHL debut with the Devils on October 10, 2015, against the Washington Capitals. He played 22 games in the NHL for the Devils that season and also made 42 appearances for their AHL affiliate Albany Devils.^[3]

On May 20, 2016, he signed a deal with Helsinki-based club Jokerit of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).^[4] In December 2020, O'Neill, dubbed "Mr. Helsinki", signed a new three-year contract with Jokerit.

O'Neill was an offensive catalyst for six years in Jokerit before the club withdrew from the KHL during the 2021–22 season due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As a free agent, O'Neill opted to continue his career abroad, agreeing to a two-year contract with Swiss club EV Zug of the NL on May 6, 2022.^[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004–05	Germantown Academy	HS-PA		2	4	1	5			—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Philadelphia Jr. Flyers 18U AAA	AYHL		22	11	30	41	37		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Philadelphia Jr. Flyers 18U AAA	AYHL		12	8	17	25	27		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Chicago Steel	USHL		60	23	38	61	40		7	3	2	5	10
2008–09	Yale University	ECAC		33	12	14	26	37		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Yale University	ECAC		34	16	29	45	20		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Yale University	ECAC		36	20	26	46	39		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Yale University	ECAC		35	21	25	46	26		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		12	1	1	2	4		4	0	1	1	6
2012–13	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		49	3	12	15	18		4	1	0	1	2
2013–14	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		60	26	21	47	39		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		71	22	58	80	55		19	10	10	20	12
2015–16	New Jersey Devils	NHL		22	0	2	2	8		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Albany Devils	AHL		42	13	19	32	10		9	1	4	5	6
2016–17	Jokerit	KHL		55	16	20	36	49		4	1	1	2	4
2017–18	Jokerit	KHL		44	14	16	30	40		11	2	1	3	6
2018–19	Jokerit	KHL		62	13	45	58	30		6	1	2	3	6
2019–20	Jokerit	KHL		56	19	29	48	18		6	0	6	6	2
2020–21	Jokerit	KHL		53	12	42	54	12		4	0	1	1	2
2021–22	Jokerit	KHL		41	9	33	42	24		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	EV Zug	NLA		50	14	28	42	20		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	EV Zug	NLA		29	10	11	21	10		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	Luleå HF	SHL		51	13	25	38	14		17	6	10	16	6
NHL totals				22	0	2	2	8		—	—	—	—	—
KHL totals				311	83	185	268	173		31	4	11	15	20

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2018	United States	OG	7th		5	1	3	4	0
2022	United States	OG	5th		4	1	2	3	0
Senior totals					9	2	5	7	0

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team	2008–09
All-ECAC Hockey First Team	2010–11, 2011–12	[6]
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team	2011	[7]
AHCA East Second-Team All-American	2011–12
AHL
Les Cunningham Award	2014–15	[8]
John B. Sollenberger Trophy	2014–15
Second All-Star Team	2014–15
Calder Cup champion	2015	[9]
SHL
Le Mat Trophy (Luleå HF)	2025	[10]