Glen Metropolit

Lore & Background

Metropolit began his career in the GTHL playing mostly AA hockey, then spent two seasons with the Richmond Hill Riots Jr.B. club before moving to the Vernon Lakers of the BCHL. He turned professional in the ECHL with the Nashville Knights in 1995–96, also playing for the Pensacola Ice Pilots and Grand Rapids Griffins before making his NHL debut in 1999–2000 with the Washington Capitals. He alternated between the Capitals and the AHL's Portland Pirates for three seasons, and played two games for Tampa Bay in 2001–02.

In 2003 he moved to Finland to play for Jokerit in Helsinki. In his first season he led the team in scoring with 50 points, the fifth-highest total in the league, and scored six goals in seven playoff games. The following season he tied for the team lead in goals (16) and led the team in points (47), finishing eighth in league scoring. He became a fan favorite, with chants dedicated to him, and his preferred spot on the left faceoff circle was called "Metro's office" by commentators and fans. He wore number 50 for Jokerit.

After two years in Finland, Metropolit moved to Switzerland and won the Nationalliga A championship with HC Lugano. He also led the league in scoring that season, which is where his nickname "The Underlying Theme" was coined by announcer Darren Bavister. He returned to North America in 2006, signing with the Atlanta Thrashers, and was later traded to the St. Louis Blues as part of a package for Keith Tkachuk. He signed with the Boston Bruins in 2007 and posted a career-high 33 points in 82 games. He then signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2008, but was claimed off waivers by the Montreal Canadiens in February 2009. He scored a career-high 16 goals with Montreal in 2009–10 before a torn shoulder muscle ended his regular season early; he returned for the playoffs against the Washington Capitals.

Reader's Guide

Glen Metropolit's career is notable for its unconventional path: undrafted out of junior hockey, he worked his way from the ECHL to a decade-long NHL career spanning 407 games. His time in Europe was equally significant, as he became a star in Finland with Jokerit, where his playmaking and penalty-killing partnership with Marko Jantunen made him a fan favorite. His nickname "Metro's office" for his spot on the left faceoff circle echoed Wayne Gretzky's famous "office" behind the net. In Switzerland, he won a league championship with HC Lugano and led the league in scoring, earning the nickname "The Underlying Theme." After his NHL career, he continued playing in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, winning a German national championship with Adler Mannheim in 2015. His career demonstrates that a player can achieve longevity and success without being drafted, through persistence and adaptability across multiple leagues and countries.

Did You Know?

• Metropolit was never drafted by an OHL or NHL team but played 407 NHL games.
• His favorite spot on the ice, the outside of the left faceoff circle, was called 'Metro's office' by fans and commentators.
• He won the Nationalliga A championship with HC Lugano and later won a German national championship with Adler Mannheim.
• He scored a shorthanded 3-on-5 goal against Vesa Toskala in the 2005 playoffs while playing for Jokerit.