Suitcase Sillinger out for season

by James Mirtle on Jan 27, 2009 4:56 PM CST Comment 4 comments

The New York Islanders have announced that center Mike Sillinger is out for the remainder of the 2008-09 season after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in New York on January 26th. It is the second surgery Sillinger has had on his hip in the last year. Sillinger also missed the final 29 games of the 2007-08 season and first 24 games of this season recovering from microfracture hip surgery.

Sillinger played in seven games with the Islanders this season, scoring two goals. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings with the 11th overall pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, the 37-year-old center has appeared in 18 NHL seasons for a record 12 different teams. Sillinger has played in 1,049 career NHL games, scoring 240 goals and 308 assists for 548 points. In 141 games with the Islanders, Sillinger has tallied 42 goals and 45 assists for 87 points – the highest total for any team in his career.

>> team release

I normally don't post the full press release, but this one has some good tidbits in it. Eighty-seven points is the most for one organization after playing for 12 different teams?

He comes by his nickname honestly.

Sillinger's an underrated player and has had some strong seasons late in his career, but he'll turn 38 this June and is likely near the end. It's too bad he's been so beat up lately as the Islanders could use him.

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I lovingly recall Sillinger’s stint with the Blues, back when he was the only pleasant surprise on that fugly 2005-2006 squad. He’s your consummate utility guy, team player and foot soldier… hopefully someone gives him a tryout next year (lucky team #13?)

"Sweet Zarley Zalapski, Batman!"

by ZarleyZalapski on Jan 27, 2009 6:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I remember that time for similar reasons. A thing about Sillinger is, whenever he was on a poorer team that used him for more than just faceoffs/PK/two-way play, the skills that made him a first-round pick would really come out. The guy has always had solid hands, and when he had scoring-line minutes he’d score on some very un-mucker-like shots.

Even this year, one of his two goals in seven games was a sniper-picked the corner. (The other was on a PP deflection, of course.)

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 27, 2009 6:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When Mike Sillinger is the fifth best player in your draft, you had a pretty good year.

Yes, I’m a big Dallas Drake fan.

by J. Michael Neal on Jan 27, 2009 9:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I recall that goalie Gary Smith was the original “Suitcase”, but with only 8 teams (including a couple in the WHA), he’s an amateur compared to Sillinger. I was saddened when he left the Blues, but they were in no position to keep him.

by tbell61 on Jan 28, 2009 9:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

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