Peter Mueller, a 37-year-old American hockey player, announced his retirement via the website of his last team, Cometa Brno, which competes in the Czech Extraliga. Mueller, a former NHL player, had been playing in Europe since 2013 and was in his second stint with Brno. In the previous season, he recorded 36 points in 36 regular-season games and added 13 points during 20 playoff games. Notably, his first goal in Game 7 of the finals against Dynamo Pardubice secured a 3-0 victory and clinched the championship for Cometa.
Although Mueller had renewed his contract with Kometa in May, he reconsidered and chose to retire this summer. Kometa’s General Manager Libor Zábranský expressed surprise at the decision but respects Mueller’s choice, acknowledging the challenges of moving on without him. Mueller reflected on his 18-year career filled with diverse experiences in different countries, expressing gratitude to his family, teammates, and organizations that supported him along the way. He also thanked Kometa’s leadership for making his time with the team some of the most enjoyable years of his career and pledged his continued support to the club.
Hailing from Bloomington, Minnesota, Mueller had a standout junior career with the Everett Silvertips in the WHL and was drafted eighth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Despite a promising start, his NHL career never fully matched expectations. Over six seasons and 297 games with the Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers, he amassed 63 goals, 97 assists, and 160 penalty minutes. He also participated in training camps for the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.
Internationally, Mueller represented the United States in two U-18 World Championships (winning gold in 2005), two World Junior Championships, and two Senior Men’s World Championships. His time in Kometa has been notable; he earned the Extraliga MVP in 2018-19 and led the league in scoring during the 2020-21 season with 64 points. Beyond Brno, he played for several European teams, including the Sable Flyers in Switzerland, Malmö Redhawks in Sweden, Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, as well as Vitkovice and Grizzlies Wolfsburg in Germany.
Fan Take: Mueller’s retirement marks the end of an era for a player who brought skill and leadership across multiple leagues and countries. His journey highlights the global nature of hockey and the opportunities it presents, inspiring both current and future players to embrace careers beyond the NHL spotlight.
