ABOUT KRYGIER
Krygier brings decades of experience as both a professional player and coach across the NHL, AHL, college, junior and high school levels.

Prior to joining the NTDP, Krygier spent four seasons (2019-23) as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, the top affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach at Western Michigan University, helping the Broncos to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2017 and leading one of the nation’s top offenses in 2018-19. He also guided the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks to the 2015 Clark Cup Final and was named Michigan High School Division I Coach of the Year in 2011 after leading Novi High School to its first state championship.

Krygier played 12 seasons professionally, including 543 NHL games with Hartford, Washington and Anaheim, totaling 243 points (100 goals, 143 assists). He appeared in 48 Stanley Cup Playoff games and was part of the Capitals’ first-ever team to reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1998. Krygier represented the United States on the international stage three times (1991, 1992, 1997) at the IIHF Men’s World Championship, playing 19 games and recording five goals and five assists.

A native of Chicago Heights, Ill., Krygier played college hockey at the University of Connecticut, where he earned a degree in business administration.

ABOUT DRAEGER
Draeger most recently served as head coach of the Sioux Falls Power 18U program (2022–2025), where he led the team to three Tier 1 Elite Hockey League playoff finals, one league championship and four USA Hockey National Tournament appearances. During his tenure, more than 30 players advanced to junior and college hockey.

In addition, Draeger served as an assistant coach at Prior Lake High School (2017–2019), where he specialized in defensive development and penalty kill systems. Draeger is also the owner of Perfect World Hockey Training, where he has trained over 240 players, including NHLers, AHLers and NCAA Division I athletes.

He was selected in the third round (68th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild and went on to be a four-year starter at Michigan State University (2012–2016), skating in 131 career games as a top-four defenseman. Prior to college, he helped Shattuck-St. Mary’s capture Tier I National Championships in 2011 and 2012 and was the team’s top-scoring defenseman in his final season.

Draeger earned his master’s degree in strength and conditioning from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2022 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in advertising from Michigan State University.