Steve Konowalchuk

Steven Reed Konowalchuk (born November 11, 1972) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL with the Washington Capitals and the Colorado Avalanche. Most recently he was the head coach of the WHL's Red Deer Rebels. Konowalchuk is the first player born and raised in Utah to make it to the NHL level.

Steve Konowalchuk
Born	(1972-11-11) November 11, 1972 (age 52) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Washington Capitals Colorado Avalanche
National team	United States
NHL draft	58th overall, 1991 Washington Capitals
Playing career	1992–2006

Playing career

He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, 3rd Round, 58th overall from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. During the 2001–02 NHL season he served as co-captain of the Capitals alongside teammate Brendan Witt. In October 2002 it was announced that he would serve as the tenth full-time captain of the Capitals. He would hold the position until he was traded to Colorado by Washington with Washington's third selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Bates Battaglia and the rights to Jonas Johansson on October 22, 2003.^[1] On September 29, 2006, Konowalchuk announced his retirement after a regular examination detected Long QT syndrome.

Coaching career

After his retirement, Konowalchuk remained within the Avalanche organization and served as an assistant coach to Joe Sacco during the 2009–10 and 2010–11 season.^[2] In June 2011, he was named head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.^[3] He led the team to a WHL championship in the 2016–17 season.

In June 2017, Konowalchuk left the Seattle Thunderbirds to join the NHL's Anaheim Ducks as an assistant coach.^[4]

Konowalchuk was fired from the Ducks after just one season. In September 2018, he was hired by the NHL's New York Rangers as an amateur scout, mainly focused on prospects in the Western Hockey League.

On June 8, 2021, the Red Deer Rebels announced that Konowalchuk would take over from owner & general manager, Brent Sutter as head coach of the hockey club.

On May 20, 2024, the St. Louis Blues announced Konowalchuk as the head coach of its AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1989–90	Prince Albert Midget Raiders	SMHL		36	30	28	58	22		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Portland Winter Hawks	WHL		72	43	49	92	78		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Portland Winter Hawks	WHL		64	51	53	104	95		6	3	6	9	12
1991–92	Washington Capitals	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL		3	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Washington Capitals	NHL		36	4	7	11	16		2	0	1	1	0
1992–93	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL		37	18	28	46	74		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Washington Capitals	NHL		62	12	14	26	33		11	0	1	1	10
1993–94	Portland Pirates	AHL		8	11	4	15	4		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Washington Capitals	NHL		46	11	14	25	44		7	2	5	7	12
1995–96	Washington Capitals	NHL		70	23	22	45	92		2	0	2	2	0
1996–97	Washington Capitals	NHL		78	17	25	42	67		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	10	24	34	80		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Washington Capitals	NHL		45	12	12	24	26		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Washington Capitals	NHL		82	16	27	43	80		5	1	0	1	2
2000–01	Washington Capitals	NHL		82	24	23	47	87		6	2	3	5	14
2001–02	Washington Capitals	NHL		28	2	12	14	23		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Washington Capitals	NHL		77	15	15	30	71		6	0	0	0	6
2003–04	Washington Capitals	NHL		6	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		76	19	20	39	70		11	4	0	4	12
2005–06	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		21	6	9	15	14		2	0	0	0	4
NHL totals				790	171	225	396	703		52	9	12	21	60

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992	United States	WJC		7	4	0	4	8
1996	United States	WCH		1	0	0	0	0
2000	United States	WC		7	2	1	3	2
2002	United States	WC		7	2	1	3	4
2004	United States	WCH		5	0	0	0	4
Senior totals				20	4	2	6	10

Coaching record

Team	Year	League	Regular Season							Post Season
			G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Finish	Result
SEA	2011–12	WHL	72	25	45	1	1	52	5th in U.S.	Missed playoffs
SEA	2012–13	WHL	72	24	38	7	3	58	4th in U.S.	Lost in First round (KEL)
SEA	2013–14	WHL	72	41	25	2	4	88	2nd in U.S.	Lost in West Semifinals (KEL)
SEA	2014–15	WHL	72	38	25	4	5	85	3rd in U.S.	Lost in First round (POR)
SEA	2015–16	WHL	72	45	23	4	0	94	1st in U.S.	Lost WHL Finals (BRN)
SEA	2016–17	WHL	72	46	20	4	2	98	2nd in U.S.	Won Ed Chynoweth Cup (REG)
SEA Totals			432	219	176	22	15	475
RD	2021–22	WHL	68	45	19	2	2	94	2nd in Central	Lost in East Semifinals (EDM)
RD	2022–23	WHL	68	43	19	3	3	92	1st in Central	Lost in East Semifinals (SSK)
RD Totals			136	88	38	5	5	186
WHL Totals			568	307	214	29	22	661

Awards

• WHL West First All-Star Team – 1992