Jed Ortmeyer Jed Ortmeyer ( born September 3 , 1978 ) is an American professional ice hockey right winger who is currently playing with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League . He is best known as a defensive forward , as he has scored , on average , a point every six games in his 306 - game National Hockey League career . Playing career . Ortmeyer played junior hockey with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) , beginning in 1996 – 97 ; he became the first local player to participate ina a Lancers game . Although he began his first season on the fourth line , he was third on the team in scoring with 48 points in 54 games , then led the Lancers in goals with 23 and points with 59 the following campaign . During Ortmeyer ' s two - year stint with the Lancers , he played with two other future - NHL ers – Duvie Westcott and Ryan Malone . After two years with the team , he left to begin his NCAA college hockey career . From 1999 through 2003 , Ortmeyer played under coach Red Berenson with the University of Michigan Wolverines , in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) . While with Michigan , Ortmeyer ' s teammates included future NHL players Mike Comrie , Jeff Jillson , Andy Hilbert , Mike Cammalleri , Mike Komisarek , Jeff Tambellini and fellow New York Rangers prospect Al Montoya . In his second year with the Wolverines , Ortmeyer tore his anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) and missed the last half of the season . The following year , after fully recovering , he was named team captain and enjoyed his most productive college hockey season with a 38 - point campaign in his third year . Undrafted by an NHL team , Ortmeyer was signed by the New York Rangers . In the 2003 – 04 NHL season , Ortmeyer split time between the Rangers and their American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliate , the Hartford Wolf Pack . He made his Rangers ' debut on November 15 , 2003 against the New Jersey Devils . He then scored his first NHL goal on November 25 against Nikolai Khabibulin of the Tampa Bay Lightning . He went on to finish the season with 2 goals and 4 assists with the Rangers , but made a greater impression with his hard work and strong defensive play . Due to the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout , Ortmeyer spent the entirety of the following season with the Wolf Pack . He returned to the Rangers full - time in the 2005 – 06 NHL season , playing on a line with Dominic Moore and Ryan Hollweg , which was known as the " HMO " line , as well as on the penalty - killing unit . The three players provided energy with their strong checking ; however , the 2006 off - season saw the trading of Moore to the Pittsburgh Penguins , breaking up the line . During that same off - season , Ortmeyer was sidelined indefinitely on August 14 , 2006 , after he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism . On January 2 , 2007 , one day after his self - predicted return date , Ortmeyer returned to the Rangers line - up after a conditioning stint with the Wolf Pack . Serving in a limited role to ease the transition , he played 5 : 35 during two periods of action . On January 13 , in his sixth game since returning , he scored on a shorthanded penalty shot against the Boston Bruins to assure a 3 – 1 Rangers victory . On January 29 , Ortmeyer posted a career - high points with 3 assists and was named the first star in another game against the Bruins in Boston . Having made a full recovery , Ortmeyer was honored with his second Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award for his outstanding commitment and hard work on and off the ice . He was also the Rangers ' 2007 nominee to win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his dedication to the game , evident in his comeback . Becoming a free agent in the 2007 off - season , Ortmeyer signed a two - year , $ 1 . 5 million contract with the Nashville Predators on July 2 . Playing in his first season with the Predators , Ortmeyer tore his ACL for the second time in his career on February 23 , 2008 , and missed the remainder of the 2007 – 08 season . He had surgery to repair his knee , but due to inactivity from the surgery he suffered from blood clots in the leg and missed the first two months of the 2008 – 09 season . On December 3 , 2008 , Ortmeyer was placed on waivers by the Predators . After clearing , he was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL . Ortmeyer signed a one - year deal with the San Jose Sharks on July 16 , 2009 . On September 27 , 2010 Ortmeyer accepted an invitation to the New York Islanders training camp on a Professional Tryout ( PTO ) . He was released on October 3 . He then played on PTOs with the San Antonio Rampage and Houston Aeros of the AHL before signing with the NHL ' s Minnesota Wild on January 4 , 2011 . The Wild assigned him to the Aeros , their AHL affiliate . Ortmeyer has since been called up by the Minnesota Wild . Personal life . Ortmeyer ' s brother , Jake Ortmeyer , is a retired professional hockey player . He currently head coaches Omaha Hockey Club Squirt AA and assist coaches Omaha AAA Hockey Club U16 team . In July 2009 , he married his high school friend , Maggie Jacobson .