Nolan Baumgartner
Defenceman who played one full NHL season, mostly in AHL.
Nolan Baumgartner (born March 23, 1976) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former defenceman who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators in the NHL. He was drafted 10th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1994 NHL entry draft and played parts of ten NHL seasons across six teams between 1995 and 2010. His only full NHL season came in 2005–06 with the Vancouver Canucks; the bulk of his playing career was spent in the AHL.
Baumgartner’s junior career peaked with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, where he won back-to-back Memorial Cup championships in 1994 and 1995. After being drafted, he returned to the WHL and helped the Blazers win a second consecutive Memorial Cup alongside future NHLers Darcy Tucker, Shane Doan, and Jarome Iginla. He was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team both years. In 1995, he earned the airBC Trophy as WHL playoff MVP after posting 17 points in 21 games, and also received the Bill Hunter Trophy as the league’s top defenceman.
His NHL career was hampered early by a serious shoulder injury. He spent most of his time with the Capitals organization playing for their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. On July 20, 2000, Washington traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks for Rémi Royer, and he continued in the AHL with Chicago’s affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. On July 11, 2002, he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks. After one season, he was left unprotected in the 2003 NHL Waiver Draft and claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 3, 2003. He played just five games for Pittsburgh before being placed on waivers again and reclaimed by Vancouver on November 1.
Back in the Canucks system, Baumgartner captained their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, during the 2003–04 season, recording 27 points. When the Moose moved into the newly opened MTS Centre in 2004–05, he scored the first professional goal in the arena’s history on November 17, 2004. When NHL play resumed the following season, he cracked Vancouver’s regular lineup and set career highs in every offensive category, leading all Canucks defencemen with 34 points.
Becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2006, he signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers. After six games, he was waived on October 17, 2006, and assigned to the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL a week later.
Quick Facts
- Height
- 6 ft 2 in
- Weight
- 195 lb
- Born
- 23 March 1976
- Birthplace
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Right
- Played for
- Washington Capitals; Chicago Blackhawks; Vancouver Canucks; Pittsburgh Penguins; Philadelphia Flyers; Dallas Stars
- Draft
- 10th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Baumgartner came off a 1994 Memorial Cup championship with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL and was drafted 10th overall by the Washington Capitals. He returned to the WHL and joined future NHLers Darcy Tucker, Shane Doan and Jarome Iginla to capture a second consecutive Memorial Cup in 1995. He was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team both years and won the airBC Trophy as WHL playoff MVP and the Bill Hunter Trophy as the league's best defenceman. His NHL career started unevenly due to a serious shoulder injury, and he spent most of his time in Washington with the AHL's Portland Pirates. After a trade to Chicago, he signed with Vancouver as a free agent in 2002. He was claimed by Pittsburgh in the 2003 waiver draft but reclaimed by Vancouver after five games. Baumgartner captained the Manitoba Moose in 2003–04 and scored the first professional goal at the newly opened MTS Center on November 17, 2004. In the 2005–06 season he cracked the Canucks' regular lineup, set NHL career highs in every statistical category, and led all team defencemen with 34 points. After that season he signed with Philadelphia but was waived after six games, claimed by Dallas, and later returned for a third stint with Vancouver. He helped the Moose to the 2009 Calder Cup Finals and was named captain of the Canadian team for the 2010 AHL All-Star Game. He retired after the 2011–12 season with the Chicago Wolves.
Reader's Guide
Baumgartner's significance lies in his unusual career path: a first-round pick who never became an NHL regular but carved out a long professional career primarily in the AHL, where he was a captain and All-Star. His only full NHL season came with the Vancouver Canucks in 2005–06, when he led the team's defencemen in scoring. That breakout season did not lead to a stable NHL role; he bounced between teams and leagues thereafter. His legacy is closely tied to the Manitoba Moose, where he served as captain twice and scored the first goal at MTS Center. He also represented Canada at the World Junior Championships, captaining the 1996 team and winning gold both years. After retiring, Baumgartner transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the Canucks' AHL affiliates in Chicago and Utica before becoming an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 until December 2021. He was hired as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators in June 2024. His career illustrates the gap between junior stardom and NHL longevity, and his contributions to the AHL and to the Canucks organization—both as a player and coach—are the core of his hockey identity.
Did You Know?
- Baumgartner won back-to-back Memorial Cup championships with the Kamloops Blazers in 1994 and 1995.
- He scored the first professional goal at the MTS Center in Winnipeg on November 17, 2004.
- He captained the Manitoba Moose in two separate stints (2003–04 and 2010–11).
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Nolan Baumgartner born?
Nolan Baumgartner was born on 23 March 1976 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
What position did Nolan Baumgartner play?
Nolan Baumgartner's position is listed as Defence.
More in Vancouver Canucks Players 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced