New York Rangers‘ 12th year left wing Nick Tarnasky(74) is having a breakout scoring season in the minors with farm club Hartford Wolf Pack as a grisly veteran skater.
In 18 games the 31-year old already has 6 goals and 1 assist. His previous high in the league was 16 in 2012/2013 on reassignment from Buffalo Sabres to affiliate Rochester Americans.
This came after his only season away from North American hockey, when he signed with Vityaz Chekhov of the KHL.
Originally a Tampa Bay Lightning deep 9th round pick in the 2003 draft (#287 overall), he spent the first four seasons of his career with them and played exclusively in the show from 2006-2009.
The 6’2″ 230 lbs. forward has played 245 NHL games and 413 in the AHL and while he was known for dropping the gloves a career high 20 times with 150 penalty minutes in 2010/2011 with Springfield Falcons, he’s mostly retired from battles as he’s gotten older, although he does have a pair of scraps in the current campaign.
Signed by the Blueshirts to a two-year deal that expires at the end of this season, he may be invited to stick around as his presence on and off the ice is turning into an all around asset. He could even earn himself a bit on an unlikely recall.
Nick Tarnasky(26) Springfield Falcons
Center Nick Tarnasky(26) started 2010/2011 in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades but was recently signed to a pto with Springfield, the team he started with 6 years ago as a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect.
Just last season he was playing in the NHL for the Florida Panthers. He spent his last two campaigns in their system.
Look for him to stick with the Falcons for the rest of the calendar and likely split for Europe next year.