Neal Broten is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 15 seasons. He was born on November 29, 1959, in Roseau, Minnesota, and grew up playing hockey in the state. Broten played college hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he was a standout player and helped lead the team to a national championship in 1979.
After his college career, Broten was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in the second round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1980-81 season and quickly established himself as a skilled forward. Broten was known for his speed, agility, and playmaking ability, and he was a key player for the North Stars throughout the 1980s.
In 1986, Broten helped lead the North Stars to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced off against the defending champion Edmonton Oilers. Broten played a crucial role in the series, scoring the game-winning goal in Game 4 and assisting on the game-winning goal in Game 5. Although the North Stars ultimately lost the series, Broten's performance earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.
Broten continued to play for the North Stars until 1993, when he was traded to the Dallas Stars. He played for the Stars for two seasons before being traded to the New Jersey Devils in 1995. Broten played for the Devils for two seasons before retiring from the NHL in 1997.
Over the course of his NHL career, Broten played in 1,099 games and scored 289 goals and 634 assists for a total of 923 points. He was a three-time NHL All-Star and won a gold medal with the United States men's hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
After retiring from the NHL, Broten remained involved in hockey as a coach and mentor. He has worked with youth hockey programs in Minnesota and has served as an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team. Broten was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame in 2014.
Overall, Neal Broten was a highly skilled and accomplished hockey player who made a significant impact on the sport during his career. He was a key player for the North Stars and helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1986. Broten's performance in that series earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy and cemented his place as one of the greatest players in North Stars history.
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