Jim Slater

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

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

Slater was drafted in the first round, 30th overall, by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2002 NHL entry draft. He played for the Michigan State Spartans for four years. 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. 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.

On September 29, 2015, he signed with Genève-Servette of the National League A (NLA). 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. He eventually returned to game action a few weeks later. Slater was suspended one game for checking HC Lugano's Julien Vauclair to the head in Game 2 of the NLA semi-finals. On May 27, 2016, Slater was signed to a one-year contract extension by Geneva. Slater underwent foot surgery in the off-season and missed most of training camp.

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. 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.

On July 21, 2017, as a free agent, Slater agreed to a one-year contract with HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the National League (NL). 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.

On September 20, 2019, he joined the Washington Capitals' Player Development Department.

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 seasonPlayoffs 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 2NLA/NL totals 169 48 65 113 260 13 3 2 5 41

International

Awards and honors