Paul Cotter

Last updated

Paul Cotter
PaulCotter2023.jpg
Cotter with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023
Born (1999-11-16) November 16, 1999 (age 25)
Canton, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
New Jersey Devils
Vegas Golden Knights
NHL draft 115th overall, 2018
Vegas Golden Knights
Playing career 2019present

Paul Cotter (born November 16, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Vegas Golden Knights, who drafted him in 2018 and with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2023.

Contents

Playing career

After playing his draft-eligible season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and recording 18 goals and 39 points in 51 games, Cotter was selected in the fourth round, 115th overall, by the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2018 NHL entry draft. [1]

Although Cotter began the 2018–19 season with Western Michigan University, he left in November 2018 after appearing in eight games and signed with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), in part because he believed going the major junior route would help him secure an entry-level contract with Vegas. He recorded just one point in his college hockey career, an assist. [2]

During the 2021–22 season, Cotter was recalled by the Golden Knights and made his NHL debut on November 9, 2021, against the Seattle Kraken. [3] In a 3–2 victory on November 11, he scored his first NHL goal against Cam Talbot of the Minnesota Wild. [4]

Cotter, as a rookie, spent the entire 2022–23 season, on Vegas' roster, ultimately playing 55 regular-season games and recording 13 goals. Vegas would go on to win the Stanley Cup Finals; although Cotter did not play any playoff games, he automatically qualified for inscription on the Stanley Cup by playing in over half of Vegas' 82 regular-season games. [5]

On June 29, 2024, Cotter was traded by the Golden Knights to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid. [6]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Brookings Blizzard NAHL 5928326010350220
2017–18 Lincoln Stars USHL 511821396474488
2018–19 Western Michigan University NCHC 80112
2018–19 London Knights OHL 489172625110002
2019–20 Chicago Wolves AHL 5645924
2020–21 Henderson Silver Knights AHL38511161840114
2021–22 Henderson Silver KnightsAHL592015356221120
2021–22 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 72026
2022–23 Vegas Golden KnightsNHL551351815
2023–24 Vegas Golden KnightsNHL767182541
2024–25 New Jersey Devils NHL79166226250112
NHL totals21738296712450112

Awards and honors

AwardYear
NAHL
Central Forward of the Year2017
Central MVP2017
All-Central Division Rookie Team2017
All-Central Division Team2017
All-Rookie First Team2017
First All-Star Team2017
Rookie of the Year2017
USHL
All-Rookie Team 2018
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2023 [5]

References

  1. Stubbs, Mike (November 12, 2018). "NHL prospect Paul Cotter joins the London Knights". Global News . Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  2. Davis, Corey (November 13, 2018). "Highly coveted freshman Cotter leaves WMU Hockey for OHL's London Knights". Western Herald . Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  3. Gotz, Ben (November 19, 2021). "Golden Knights rookie has 'awesome week' scoring at 2 levels". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  4. Webster, Danny (November 12, 2021). "Rondbjerg, Cotter each scores first NHL goal, Golden Knights defeat Wild". National Hockey League . Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Granger, Jesse (July 10, 2023). "Here's how all 52 Golden Knights names on the Stanley Cup contributed to the championship" . The Athletic . The New York Times . Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  6. "Golden Knights acquire Alexander Holtz, Akira Schmid from Devils for Paul Cotter, pick". Sportsnet . June 29, 2024.