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.

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. 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. In June 2011, he was named head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. 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.

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.

On January 19,2026, Konowalchuk was relieved of his coaching duties in Springfield and replaced with Steve Ott.

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

Awards WHL West First All-Star Team – 1992