Second All-Time Team

With a decade of AHL hockey in the Queen City in the books, we're taking a look at the best players to don a Checkers sweater. After collecting votes from members of the Checkers Communications Department and the fans, we have come up with the First and Second All-Time Teams, presented by Autobell.

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Without further ado, here is the Second All-Time Team! Stay tuned for the reveal of the First All-Time Team later today.

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Center - Patrick Brown

The Numbers

347gp | 40g | 141a | 181pts

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• Third-longest tenured Checker in franchise history
• Ranked in top 10 in franchise history in goals (9th), assists (t-8th), points (8th), plus-minus by a forward (t-8th), shorthanded goals (t-3rd), shorthanded assists (t-2nd), shorthanded points (t-2nd), postseason goals (t-5th) and postseason points (t-8th)
• Checkers captain for three seasons from 2016 to 2019
• Calder Cup champion

Legacy

Joining the Checkers as the team transitioned from one era to another, Patrick Brown quickly developed into a dependable leader on the ice and off and was a significant guiding force in Charlotte’s journey to a championship. The longtime captain’s gritty style of play made him a reliable choice in all situations, while his increasing ability to get into the dirty areas and chip in offense year-by-year made him an invaluable piece down the middle.

Left Wing - Zach Boychuk

The Numbers

337gp | 123g | 152a | 275pts

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• Franchise leader in goals, assists, points, power-play goals, power-play points and game-winning goals
• Ranked in top three in franchise history in games played (2nd) and power-play assists (3rd)
• Won Willie Marshall Award for leading the AHL in goals in 2013-14
• Holds franchise single-season record for goals, points and power-play points (2013-14)
• Named to AHL Second All-Star Team in 2013-14

Legacy

A longtime staple on the ice for Charlotte, Zach Boychuk was an unparalleled offensive force at his peak – clearly exemplified with his dominant 2013-14 campaign in which he led the entire league in goals. Boychuk was a near-constant presence on the score sheet through the early years of the franchise, combining with Chris Terry to carry the Charlotte offense with his innate scoring ability.

Right Wing - Andrew Miller

The Numbers

121gp | 29g | 70a | 99pts

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• Tied for 10th in franchise history in assists
• Holds the highest assists-per-game average among players with 120 games played in franchise history
• Holds the second highest points-per-game average among players with 120 games played in franchise history
• One of 10 players in franchise history to record at least two consecutive 40-point seasons

Legacy

Andrew Miller didn’t spend a ton of time in a Checkers sweater, but he made quite the impact in his short tenure. After a strong showing following his late-season acquisition from Edmonton in 2015-16, Miller turned in consecutive stellar campaigns while operating at a near point-per-game average. A highly-skilled playmaker, Miller consistently made the players around him better and helped take the Charlotte offense to the next level, playing a key role in the 2016-17 squad finally snapping the franchise’s postseason drought.

Defenseman - Jake Bean

The Numbers

129gp | 23g | 69a | 92pts

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• Ranked in top four in franchise history among defensemen in goals (t-2nd), assists (4th), points (3rd), power-play goals (4th), power-play assists (3rd) and power-play points (3rd)
• Tied for the most goals by a defenseman in a single season (13 in 18-19)
• Named to AHL All-Rookie Team in 2018-19
• Led all AHL defensemen in scoring in 2019-20
• Calder Cup champion

Legacy

Jake Bean only has two pro seasons under his belt but he has shown enough on the ice to warrant a spot among the franchise’s best. His offensive prowess is second to none, with Bean equally adept at facilitating to his group of forwards and finding cracks in the opponents’ defense to thread shots through. Bean has taken on a lot of responsibility early in his career and has turned it into some of the most impressive production we’ve seen from the blue line.

Defenseman - Michal Jordan

The Numbers

301gp | 23g | 72a | 95pts

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• Fourth-longest tenured player in franchise history
• Ranked in the top five in franchise history among defensemen in goals (t-2nd), assists (2nd), points (2nd), power-play goals (t-5th), power-play assists (t-4th), power-play points (4th), shorthanded goals (t-1st) and shorthanded points (t-2nd)
• AHL All Star in 2012-13
• Served as team captain in 2014-15

Legacy

It’s the offense-leaning defensemen who often get the spotlight, but Michal Jordan showed the importance of a steady, reliable presence on the back end during his tenure with the Checkers. A mainstay on the Charlotte blue line, Jordan brought a strong, well-rounded skill set to the club through some of the tougher years, as well as a positive leadership presence that culminated in being named team captain after the departure of longtime Checker Brett Sutter.

Goalie - Mike Murphy

The Numbers

43-38-5 | 2.90 GAA | .906 SV%

Resume

• Third-longest tenured goalie in franchise history
• Ranked in top six in franchise history in wins (3rd), shutouts (t-4th), shootout wins (t-2nd) and save percentage (t-6th)
• Recorded the second-highest single-season save percentage in franchise history in 2010-11
• Checkers Man of the Year in 2010-11

Legacy

After taking the starting job during Charlotte’s inaugural AHL campaign, Mike Murphy became a cornerstone of the team and helped push his squad all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. As Voice of the Checkers Jason Shaya put it, “[Murphy] displayed some of the most brilliant goaltending we’ve seen, while defying his doubters countless times.”