Jim Slater (ice hockey)

Jim Slater
Slater in 2012
Born	(1982-12-09) December 9, 1982 (age 41) Lapeer, Michigan, U.S.[ citation needed ]
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Left
Played for	Atlanta Thrashers Winnipeg Jets Genève-Servette HC HC Fribourg-Gottéron
National team	United States
NHL Draft	30th overall, 2002 Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career	2005–2019
Coaching career
Biographical details
Alma mater	Michigan State University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2019–2021	Michigan State (assistant)
2019–present	Washington Capitals (development)

James Parker Slater (born December 9, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He spent the entirety of his National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization.

Playing career

Slater as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers

As a youth, Slater played in the 1996 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Little Caesars minor ice hockey team. ^[1]

Slater was drafted in the first round, 30th overall, by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.^{[ citation needed ]} He played for the Michigan State Spartans for four years.^{[ citation needed ]} He joined the Thrashers for their 2005–06 season opener before being demoted to their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for four games. After he scored two points in those four games, he was called up and stayed with the Thrashers for the rest of the season.^{[ citation needed ]} Slater joined the Winnipeg Jets in 2011 upon the Atlanta Thrashers' relocation there. On June 13, 2012, Slater renewed his contract with the Jets, signing a 3-year, $4.8 million contract. Slater was the longest tenured player with the Jets/Thrashers organization, having played with them since the 2005-06 season up to the 2014-15 season; Blake Wheeler has since surpassed him, having played 897 games with the franchise until his departure in the 2023 offseason.^{[ citation needed ]}

On September 29, 2015, he signed with Genève-Servette of the National League A (NLA). ^[2] His NLA debut was delayed due to a work permit issue. Slater eventually made his debut for Geneva on October 9, 2015 in Kloten and scored his first goal that same day. On January 9, 2016, Slater was severely hit to the head by teammate Matt D'Agostini and suffered a concussion and a severe cervical spine injury. ^[3] He eventually returned to game action a few weeks later. ^[4] Slater was suspended one game for checking HC Lugano's Julien Vauclair to the head in Game 2 of the NLA semi-finals. ^[5] On May 27, 2016, Slater was signed to a one-year contract extension by Geneva. ^[6] Slater underwent foot surgery in the off-season and missed most of training camp. ^[7]

On September 1, 2016, Slater was named captain of Genève-Servette. Slater missed the end of the 2016–17 regular season as a healthy scratch, after displaying poor performances and a lack of energy.^{[ citation needed ]} Daniel Vukovic took over the captaincy before Slater was inserted back in the lineup for the start of the 2017 playoffs. Slater played his last game for Geneva on March 7, 2017 in game 2 of the 1/4 finals, before being taken out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. Cody Almond assumed the captaincy as Vukovic was suspended.^{[ citation needed ]}

On July 21, 2017, as a free agent, Slater agreed to a one-year contract with HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the National League (NL). ^[8] He spent two seasons with the club, skating in 93 games.

On September 3, 2018, Slater was named to Michigan State's staff as a volunteer assistant coach, effectively ending his professional hockey career. ^[9]

On September 20, 2019, he joined the Washington Capitals' Player Development Department. ^[10]

Personal life

His father, Bill Slater, was a defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998–99	Cleveland Jr. Barons	NAHL		50	13	20	33	58		2	0	0	0	2
1998–99	US NTDP U18	USDP		3	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Cleveland Jr. Barons	NAHL		56	35	50	85	129		3	1	3	4	4
2000–01	Cleveland Jr. Barons	NAHL		48	27	37	64	122		6	6	6	12	6
2001–02	Michigan State University	CCHA		37	11	21	32	50		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Michigan State University	CCHA		37	18	26	44	26		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Michigan State University	CCHA		42	19	29	48	38		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Michigan State University	CCHA		41	16	32	48	30		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Chicago Wolves	AHL		4	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		71	10	10	20	46		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		74	5	14	19	62		4	0	0	0	2
2007–08	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		69	8	5	13	41		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Chicago Wolves	AHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		60	8	10	18	52		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		61	11	7	18	60		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		36	5	7	12	19		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		78	13	8	21	42		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		26	1	1	2	19		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		27	1	1	2	8		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		82	5	8	13	58		4	0	0	0	0
2015–16	Genève–Servette HC	NLA		32	15	13	28	22		10	3	2	5	41
2016–17	Genève–Servette HC	NLA		44	8	15	23	54		2	0	0	0	0
2017–18	HC Fribourg–Gottéron	NL		45	14	17	31	67		1	0	0	0	0
2018–19	HC Fribourg–Gottéron	NL		48	11	20	31	117		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				584	67	71	138	407		8	0	0	0	2
NLA/NL totals				169	48	65	113	260		13	3	2	5	41

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002	United States	WJC	5th		7	1	4	5	8
2006	United States	WC	7th		7	0	1	1	2
2012	United States	WC	7th		8	2	1	3	6
2018	United States	OG	7th		3	1	0	1	0
Junior totals					7	1	4	5	8
Senior totals					18	3	2	5	8

^[11]

Awards and honors

Award	Year
NAHL
All-League First All-Star	2000, 2001
College
All-CCHA Rookie Team	2001-02
All-CCHA First Team	2002-03, 2003-04
AHCA West Second-Team All-American	2003–04
NHL
Staffmax Community Service Award (Winnipeg Jets)	2012

References

1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
2. "Jim Slater inks in Switzerland". todayslapshot.com. September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
3. Andrey, Patrick (January 9, 2016). "After heavy collision - GSHC's Jim Slater taken to the hospital".
4. Genève, Tribune de (January 22, 2016). "GSHC's Jim Slater returns, Matt Lombardi a healthy scratch".
5. SIHF (March 18, 2016). "GSHC's Slater and Rod suspended for tomorrow, proceedings initiated".
6. HC, Genève-Servette (May 27, 2016). "Option activated – Jim Slater stays with Genève-Servette HC for another season".
7. HC, Genève-Servette (August 2, 2016). "GSHC's Slater and Jacquemet absent in first on-ice practice".
8. Bratislava, HC Fribourg-Gottéron / HC Slovan (July 21, 2017). "Gottéron signs Barry Brust and Jim Slater, Michal Řepík to leave the club".
9. "Jim Slater Added to Spartan Staff as Volunteer Coach". Michigan States Spartans. September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
10. "Capitals Name Jim Slater to Player Development Department". Washington Capitals. September 20, 2019.
11. "2006 USA Men's National Hockey Team Media Guide" (PDF). USA Hockey. April 19, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2008. Retrieved October 2, 2008.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Sporting positions
Preceded by Kari Lehtonen	Atlanta Thrashers first round draft pick 2002	Succeeded by Braydon Coburn