Introduction
Nicholas Dowd (born May 27, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the 7th round (198th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Playing career
Born to English parents, Dowd grew up in Huntsville, Alabama where he played junior hockey Dowd moved to Wenatchee, Washington to play for the Wenatchee Wild in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).The following season he played for the Indiana Ice in Indianapolis, Indiana, before joining the St. Cloud State Huskies in the NCAA Men's Division I National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). In his senior year, Dowd's outstanding play was rewarded with a selection to the inaugural 2013–14 All-NCHC First Teamas well as being a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.He finished his college career with 52 goals and 69 assists for 121 points in 155 games played.
On April 1, 2014, the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) signed Dowd to an entry-level contract, he was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. During the 2015–16 season, he made his NHL debut on March 22, 2016, and played 5 games before returning to the Ontario Reign. He recorded his first career NHL goal the following season on October 20, 2016, against the Dallas Stars.
In the 2017–18 season, on December 7, 2017, the Los Angeles Kings traded Dowd to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Jordan Subban. He remained on the Canucks roster to play out the season, posting 3 goals in 40 games.
As a free agent from the Canucks, Dowd agreed to a one-year, $650,000 contract with reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Washington Capitals, on July 1, 2018. On April 11, 2019, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Capitals.
Personal life
He married his wife Paige Dowd (formerly Kraemer), whom he met while studying at St. Cloud State University, on August 11, 2017.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2007–08 | Culver Military Academy | USHS | 45 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | St. Louis Bandits | NAHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Wenatchee Wild | NAHL | 43 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 71 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 34 | ||
| 2009–10 | Indiana Ice | USHL | 46 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 48 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | St. Cloud State | WCHA | 36 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | St. Cloud State | WCHA | 39 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | St. Cloud State | WCHA | 41 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | St. Cloud State | NCHC | 38 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 75 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 44 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 10 | ||
| 2015–16 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 58 | 14 | 34 | 48 | 49 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 14 | ||
| 2015–16 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 70 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 40 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 64 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2019–20 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 56 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 28 | |||||||
| NHL totals | 251 | 24 | 39 | 63 | 103 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||||
Awards and achievements
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| WCHA All-Academic Team | 2011–12, 2012–13 | |
| All-NCHC First Team | 2013–14 | |
| AHCA West First-Team All-American | 2013–14 | |
| Hobey Baker Award finalist | 2013–14 | |
| AHL | ||
| Calder Cup winner | 2015 | |