Patrick Mullen Patrick Mullen ( born May 6 , 1986 ) is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) . Mullen played one season for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) before attending the University of Denver ( DU ) . He was a four - year student - athlete at DU , twice being named to the All - WCHA Academic Team and as a senior was awarded the Lowe ' s Senior CLASS Award . Following his college career he signed with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent . Mullen played three season for the Kings minor league affiliate the Manchester Monarchs , before leaving as a free agent and signing with the Vancouver Canucks . Mullen has played both forward and defense throughout his career . He is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame r Joe Mullen . Early life . Patrick was born in Boston , Massachusetts to Linda and Joe Mullen . He has two older brothers and a younger sister . Their father is a Hockey Hall of Fame forward . He graduated as an honor roll student from Upper St . Clair High School in Pittsburgh . Playing career . Mullen played junior ice hockey for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) during the 2004 – 05 season . He registered 37 points in 60 games , fourth on the team ; he also led the Stampede in plus - minus with a + 11 rating . After the season , Mullen chose to attend the University of Denver ( DU ) in part for the coaches and the city of Denver . Prior to his first season with the Pioneers , Mullen was named Preseason Player to Watch by " College Hockey News " . He scored his first career goal in a 4 – 2 win against the Air Force Academy , helping DU to their first win of the year . He finished the year with 7 goals and 17 points in 37 games , tying for sixth on the team for goals and points . The following season , he recorded four multi - point games , though he only managed to duplicate the 17 points recorded in his freshman season . Mullen spent most of the season on forward , but also played four games as a defenseman . He missed the Western Collegiate Hockey Association ( WCHA ) playoffs after contracting mononucleosis . Following the conclusion of the season , Mullen was named to the All - WCHA Academic Team . In the 2007 – 08 season , Mullen began the year playing defense . Though he did spend some time at forward , Mullen led all DU defenders in scoring by season ' s end . In back - to - back games leading up to the WCHA playoffs , Mullen received two 10 - minute misconduct penalties . As a result , head coach George Gwozdecky suspended Mullen for the first game of the playoffs . Mullen returned from his suspension the following game and helped the Pioneers to an eventual WCHA tournament win . In his senior season , Mullen set career highs in assists and points while leading Denver in blocked shots . At the conclusion of the year , he was again named to the All - WCHA Academic Team and was awarded the Lowe ' s Senior CLASS Award . Undrafted out of college , Mullen signed a two - year entry - level free agent contract with the Los Angeles Kings on April 3 , 2009 . Playing with the Kings farm team the Manchester Monarchs , Mullen recorded his first professional point , an assist , in his first game , a 6 – 3 victory over the Albany River Rats . His first professional goal came almost two months later in a 4 – 2 win against the Springfield Falcons . After playing 36 games for the Monarchs , Mullen was sent down to their ECHL affiliate , the Ontario Reign . After playing only one game for the Reign , he was recalled by Manchester . He finished the year playing 8 more games for the Monarchs bring his total to 44 and recorded 4 goals and 10 points in his first professional season . In the playoffs Mullen played two games without recording a point . In his second season Mullen received more responsibilities after being added to the Monarchs power play unit , and while he played mostly on defense he did see some ice time at forward . With the changes he doubled his production to 20 points in 67 games . During the off - season Mullen was re - signed by the Kings to a one - year contract . In his third season he again double his point production registering 41 points in 69 games . He also played in 4 playoff games for the Monarchs registering a goal and three points . Following the completion of his contract Mullen left the Kings organization as a free agent and signed with the Vancouver Canucks . Due to the depth on defense on Vancouver Mullen was not expected to make the Canucks out of training camp . With the 2012 – 13 lockout approaching Mullen was assigned to the Canuck ' s American Hockey League affiliate , the Chicago Wolves . In his second game with the Wolves Mullen suffered an injury to his left shoulder . The injury required surgery which ended his season . Despite his limited playing time in Chicago the Canucks re - signed Mullen to a one year contract in the off - season . On March 4 , 2014 , Mullen was traded to the Ottawa Senators organization for Jeff Costello .