Nico Sturm (born 3 May 1995) is a German professional ice hockey forward for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. He made his NHL debut in 2019 with the Wild. Sturm won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. Internationally Sturm has played for the German national team, and won a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships.

Nico Sturm
Born (1995-05-03) 3 May 1995 (age 29)
Augsburg, Germany
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
San Jose Sharks
Minnesota Wild
Colorado Avalanche
National team  Germany
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2019–present

Playing career

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Amateur

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Sturm played as a youth in his native Germany, appearing with ESV Kaufbeuren in the German Development League (DNL) from 2011 to 2014. In order to continue his development, Sturm opted to move to North America, playing in the North American Hockey League with the Corpus Christi IceRays and the Austin Bruins.

Sturm was selected by the Tri-City Storm, 72nd overall, in the 2015 USHL Entry Draft. On 30 June 2015, Sturm was announced to have signed with the Storm, while also committing to play collegiate hockey at Clarkson University of the ECAC.[1][non-primary source needed][non-primary source needed]

In the 2015–16 season, Sturm recorded 39 points in 57 games with the Tri-City Storm and added 6 points in 5 playoff games to help Tri-City win the Clark Cup.

Sturm played his freshman season with the Clarkson University Golden Knights in the 2016–17 season, collecting 21 points in 38 games to earn a selection to the ECAC All-Rookie Team. In his second year, Sturm continued to realise his potential, increasing his offensive production with 37 points in 40 games. His solid two-way play was noticed as he led the NCAA with a 61.7% face-off win percentage and was named the 2017–18 ECAC Best Defensive Forward.

Returning as co-captain for his junior season with Clarkson in 2018–19, Sturm led the team in scoring and assists with 45 points in 39 games. In his standout season for the top ranked Golden Knights, he was named the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward for the second consecutive season, a Top Ten Hobey Baker Award Finalist, a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year Award, named to the 2019 ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team and an ECAC First-Team All-League selection.[2]

Professional

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Minnesota Wild

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As an undrafted free agent, Sturm attracted league wide NHL interest following his junior season, opting to forgo his senior year in signing a one-year, entry-level contract for the remainder of the 2018–19 season, with the Minnesota Wild on 1 April 2019.[3] He immediately joined the out of contention Wild making his NHL debut in a 3–0 defeat to the Boston Bruins on 4 April 2019.[4]

Sturm mostly played in the Wild's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, in the 2019–20 season. He earned a call-up to the NHL during the season and recorded his first two NHL assists in a six-game stint with the Wild. When the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wild were admitted to a play-in round of the playoffs when the NHL resumed. Sturm would play in two games of the Wild's five-game series against the Vancouver Canucks, and scored his first NHL goal in Game 4 against Jacob Markström.

Colorado Avalanche

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On 15 March 2022, he was traded by the Wild to Division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, in exchange for Tyson Jost.[5] On 26 June 2022, Sturm helped the Avalanche claim their first Stanley Cup in 21 years.

San Jose Sharks

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On the back of his success with the Avalanche, Sturm as a free agent was signed to a three-year, $6 million contract with the San Jose Sharks on 13 July 2022.[6]

Personal

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Sturm is engaged to fellow Clarkson alum and professional hockey player Taylor Turnquist.[7][8]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 ESV Kaufbeuren DNL 31 3 4 7 33 3 0 0 0 0
2012–13 ESV Kaufbeuren DNL 33 11 22 33 22
2013–14 ESV Kaufbeuren DNL 24 13 21 34 20
2013–14 Corpus Christi IceRays NAHL 21 1 2 3 2
2014–15 Austin Bruins NAHL 53 11 30 41 28 13 7 6 13 0
2015–16 Tri-City Storm USHL 57 14 25 39 47 5 3 3 6 0
2016–17 Clarkson University ECAC 39 8 13 21 37
2017–18 Clarkson University ECAC 40 14 23 37 14
2018–19 Clarkson University ECAC 39 14 31 45 29
2018–19 Minnesota Wild NHL 2 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Minnesota Wild NHL 6 0 2 2 0 2 1 0 1 0
2019–20 Iowa Wild AHL 55 12 20 32 18
2020–21 Minnesota Wild NHL 50 11 6 17 17 7 1 1 2 0
2021–22 Minnesota Wild NHL 53 9 8 17 8
2021–22 Colorado Avalanche NHL 21 0 3 3 6 13 0 2 2 2
2022–23 San Jose Sharks NHL 74 14 12 26 23
2023–24 San Jose Sharks NHL 63 5 8 13 12
NHL totals 269 39 39 78 66 22 2 3 5 2
Medal record
Representing   Germany
Ice hockey
World Championships
  2023 Finland/Latvia

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Germany WJC 10th 6 0 0 0 12
2023 Germany WC   10 6 2 8 2
2024 Germany WC 6th 6 1 2 3 2
Junior totals 6 0 0 0 12
Senior totals 16 7 4 11 4

Awards and honors

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Award Year
USHL
Clark Cup champion 2016
College
ECAC All-Rookie Team 2017
ECAC Third All-Star Team 2018
ECAC Best Defensive Forward 2018, 2019
ECAC First All-Star Team 2019
ECAC All-Tournament Team 2019
East First All-American Team 2019
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2022 [9]

References

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  1. ^ hockeycommitments (30 June 2015). "Sturm commits to Clarkson". Retrieved 30 June 2015 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Sturm brings a little bit of everything to the table for Wild". National Hockey League. April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Wild signs Nico Sturm to one-year, entry-level contract". Minnesota Wild. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Sturm has memorable NHL debut with Wild". Star Tribune. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Avalanche acquires Nico Sturm from Wild". Colorado Avalanche. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Sharks sign forward Nico Sturm". San Jose Sharks. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  7. ^ Russo, Michael. "Wild's Nico Sturm and Pride's Taylor Turnquist inspire each other through life and hockey". The Athletic. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Eishockey-Star mit Allgäuer Wurzeln: Nico Sturm hat sich verlobt". allgaeuer-zeitung.de. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Colorado Avalanche win first Stanley Cup since 2001 with Game 6 comeback". ESPN. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
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