Undrafted, small (5’7″ 175 lbs.) center Odeen Tufto(29) was signed to a 1-year entry level deal, starting 2021/2022 by back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions Tampa Bay Lightning, after finishing up four super good seasons at Quinnipiac University Bobcats.
He was a 10 goal, 30+ assist guy in ECAC play, earning him awards for most assists 2020/2021 with 39 as team captain, Division Player Of The Year and a top 10 for Hobey Baker.
The Chaska, MN native basically has put up points everywhere he’s played: St. Thomas Academy USHS-MN and two campaigns of junior hockey, one in the BCHL and one for three different teams in the USHL.
He played 4 AHL games on an ato for affiliate Syracuse Crunch without scoring a point, but we feel once the 24-year old gets himself situated for a full run at a title, he’ll start to heat up.
Playing only 4 games up, he would spend most of his rookie season with Orlando Solar Bears, running up some points with 7 goals and 24 assists in 36 ECHL games that after not being qualified, he parlays to a new deal for 2022/2023 with Tuscon Roadrunners.
After no games with his contract club, he was eventually sent to Atlanta Gladiators for some playing time and in 12 games he turns over 3 goals and 4 assists, but is all set with his time in the minors here and agrees to see out the rest of 2023 with Krefeld Pinguine of DEL2.