Taylor Pyatt
Pyatt with the Penguins in 2014.
Born (1981-08-19) August 19, 1981
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for New York Islanders
Buffalo Sabres
Vancouver Canucks
Phoenix Coyotes
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Genève-Servette HC
NHL Draft 8th overall, 1999
New York Islanders
Playing career 1999–2015

Taylor William Pyatt (born August 19, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Drafted from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he played major junior hockey with the Sudbury Wolves.

Playing career

Early career

Pyatt played three seasons with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). After scoring 75 points in 68 games in his second OHL season, Pyatt was selected eighth overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. The next season, his third and final with Sudbury, Pyatt scored 89 points in 68 games, earning OHL First All-Star Team honours.

New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres

In 2000–01, Pyatt made the final cut out of the Islanders' training camp as the only player with no prior NHL experience.[1] On November 27, 2000, he scored his first NHL goal, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[2] After Pyatt's rookie season, during which he scored 18 points in 78 games, the Islanders traded him to the Buffalo Sabres (along with Tim Connolly) in exchange for Frank J. Selke Trophy winner Michael Peca in a draft-day trade.

During the 2004–05 lockout, Pyatt went overseas to play for Hammarby IF of the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan.

Vancouver Canucks

After four seasons with Buffalo, on July 14, 2006, Pyatt was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (later traded by Buffalo to the Calgary Flames). Pyatt benefitted from playing on the Canucks' top line with twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin,[3] leading to career highs in goals and points, with 23 and 37 respectively.

Pyatt with the Canucks in 2007.

During the 2007–08 season, on January 13, 2008, Pyatt took a stick to the face. Getting in the way of an Eric Brewer clearing attempt in a game against the St. Louis Blues, he required 25 stitches in his upper lip and a splint in his mouth to hold up his teeth.[4] He wore a full face shield upon his return to the lineup and elected to wear a visor for the remainder of his Vancouver tenure. Despite being taken off the Canucks' top line with the Sedins during the season, Pyatt completed the campaign matching his career-high of 37 points, as well as setting a new career mark for assists with 21. The next season, in 2008–09, Pyatt was sidelined for eight games due to a foot injury suffered on December 17, 2008.[5] Following an injury to Pavol Demitra during the 2009 playoffs, Pyatt made his return to the lineup on May 5 for Game 3 of the second round against the Chicago Blackhawks.[6] Following the Canucks' second round elimination, it was revealed Pyatt required off-season surgery to his knee.[7]

Phoenix Coyotes

After not being re-signed by the Canucks, Pyatt became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2009.[8] Two months later, he signed a one-year, $600,000 contract with the Phoenix Coyotes.[9][10] Going into his first season with the Coyotes, Pyatt suffered a lower body injury during training camp and missed the team's first five regular season games.[11] One month after returning to the Coyotes' lineup, he and younger brother Tom Pyatt of the Montreal Canadiens played against each other for the first time in their careers.[12] On December 23, 2009, as the Coyotes played their final game before the NHL Christmas break against the Anaheim Ducks, Pyatt scored the second goal of the game, his 200th career NHL point.[13] Near the end of the regular season, Pyatt recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Colorado Avalanche after scoring a goal, recording an assist and engaging in a fight.[14] The Coyotes defeated the Avalanche 6–2 and clinched their first playoff berth in seven seasons.[14] Pyatt finished the regular season with 12 goals and 23 points in 74 games played. In the playoffs, he scored one goal and recorded one assist as the Coyotes were eliminated in the Western Conference Quarterfinals by the Detroit Red Wings in seven games.[15]

Pyatt with the Coyotes in 2010.

On June 21, 2010, Pyatt signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with Phoenix, avoiding unrestricted free agency.[16] In his second season with the Coyotes, Pyatt began scoring more frequently than in his previous season. However, on December 20, 2010, in a 6–1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pyatt suffered an upper body injury during a fight with Penguins enforcer Deryk Engelland and was subsequently placed on the Coyotes' injured reserve list.[17] After missing four games, he returned to the lineup for the Coyotes' New Year's Eve game against the St. Louis Blues.[18]

New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins

On July 3, 2012, Pyatt signed with the New York Rangers on a two-year, $3.1 million contract. In the final year of his contract with the Rangers on January 2, 2014, Pyatt was claimed off of waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored his first goal with the Penguins on January 15, 2014, against the Washington Capitals. He would add three more goals during the remainder of the season. He did not play in the 2014 playoffs.

Switzerland and retirement

On July 24, 2014, with indication of little NHL interest, Pyatt agreed to a one-year free agent contract with Swiss team Genève-Servette HC of the National League A.[19] For the first time in his career, Pyatt played alongside brother Tom Pyatt with Genève-Servette.

After one season in Switzerland, his 15th professional season, Pyatt retired from professional hockey.[20]

Personal life

Pyatt is one of three sons of Kathie and former NHL player Nelson Pyatt.[12] His younger brother by six years, Tom Pyatt, was also a professional ice hockey player.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1996–97 Thunder Bay Kings Bantam AAA TBAHA 60526111372 —————
1997–98 Sudbury Wolves OHL 58141731104 103148
1998–99 Sudbury Wolves OHL 6837387595 40446
1999–2000 Sudbury Wolves OHL 6840498998 12871525
2000–01 New York Islanders NHL 784141839 —————
2001–02 Rochester Americans AHL 27641036 —————
2001–02 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4810102035 —————
2002–03 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7814142838 —————
2003–04 Buffalo Sabres NHL 638122025 —————
2004–05 Hammarby IF SWE.2 241192020 —————
2005–06 Buffalo Sabres NHL 41661233 1405510
2006–07 Vancouver Canucks NHL 7623143742 122466
2007–08 Vancouver Canucks NHL 7916213760 —————
2008–09 Vancouver Canucks NHL 691091943 40002
2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 7412112339 71122
2010–11 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 7618133127 41010
2011–12 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 739101923 164262
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 4865116 122244
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 2201110 —————
2013–14 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 3440410 —————
2014–15 Genève–Servette HC NLA 3814112518 84154
NHL totals 859140140280430 6910142426

Awards and achievements

Transactions

References

  1. ↑ Kellner, Jenny (2000-09-30). "Pyatt impresses Islanders". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  2. ↑ "Pyatt helps Islanders end skid". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  3. ↑ "Pyatt doing just fine bulging the twine". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  4. ↑ "Canucks' Pyatt gets stitches, face shield". Rogers Sportsnet. 2008-01-14. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  5. ↑ "Pyatt one bright light in dim result". The Province. 2009-01-18. Archived from the original on 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  6. ↑ "Demitra out of Canucks lineup, Pyatt in". CBC. 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  7. ↑ "Demitra and three other Canucks to go under the knife". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  8. ↑ Domet, Jeff (2009-08-04). "Hockey's dog days of summer". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  9. ↑ "Coyotes sign LW Taylor Pyatt". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2009-09-02. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  10. ↑ Farber, Michael (2009-10-20). "Whither the kid Coyotes, Messier's future, and more notes". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  11. ↑ Gintonio, Jim (2009-10-15). "Notes: Tippett has high hopes for Boedker". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  12. 1 2 Basu, Arpon (2010-10-25). "Pyatt parents at Bell Centre for Tom vs. Taylor". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  13. ↑ "Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov shuts out Ducks". USA Today. Associated Press. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  14. 1 2 Baum, Bob (2010-03-29). "Playoff bound: Coyotes clinch, then blast Avs". Casa Grande Dispatch. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  15. ↑ Harrison, Doug (2010-04-28). "Red Wings bury Coyotes in Game 7". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  16. ↑ The Canadian Press (2010-06-21). "Coyotes re-sign Pyatt to 2-year contract". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  17. ↑ "Phoenix Coyotes (15-10-7) at San Jose Sharks (18-11-5), 10:30 p.m." The News & Observer. 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  18. ↑ "Pyatt returns from injury Friday". NBC Sports. 2011-01-01. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  19. ↑ "Fourth foreigner Taylor Pyatt signed". Genève-Servette HC (in French). 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  20. ↑ "Veteran NHLer Taylor Pyatt says it's time to call it a career". Thunder Bay Newswatch. 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
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