Tyler Arnason

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox ice hockey player Tyler Lawrence Arnason (born March 16, 1979) is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and the Colorado Avalanche.

Early life

He is the son of former NHL winger Chuck Arnason.<ref name="berra">Template:Cite web</ref> Arnason was born in Oklahoma City, when his father was a member of the Oklahoma City Stars of the Central Hockey League (CHL). As a result, Arnason is the first player in NHL history to be born in the state of Oklahoma.

Arnason and his family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba following the end of his father's career. He attended St. John's-Ravenscourt School, graduating in 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Arnason holds dual citizenship to both the United States and Canada.

Arnason is the brother of Canadian actress and screenwriter Aubrey Arnason.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>

Playing career

Arnason attended St. Cloud State University and played 118 games for the men's hockey team, registering 136 points in his three years with the team. In 2001, he led St. Cloud to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association title.<ref name="berra"/>

File:Tyler Arnason (40499934632).jpg

Tyler Arnason at AHL All-Star Classic 2002

Arnason was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in the seventh round, 183rd overall.<ref name="blackhawks">Template:Cite web</ref> In his first professional season, Arnason started out with the Blackhawks but due to poor conditioning spent most of the year with the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals.<ref name="berra"/> He was impressive in the AHL however, selected in the AHL All-Star Classic for PlanetUSA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Arnason was also awarded the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the league's top rookie,<ref name="Dud">Template:Cite web</ref> and was named to the league's All-Rookie team.<ref name="blackhawks"/>

In the 2002–03 season, his first full season in the NHL, Arnason was named NHL Rookie of the Month in October<ref name="hattrick">Template:Cite web</ref> played in the NHL Youngstars Game<ref name="NHL">Template:Cite web</ref> and was named in the All-Rookie team.<ref name="blackhawks"/> During the season, Arnason recorded his first career NHL hat trick, scoring all three Chicago goals in a 3–3 tie versus the San Jose Sharks on December 28.<ref name="hattrick"/> His best season was in 2003–04 when he amassed 55 points.<ref name="blackhawks"/> While playing with Chicago he was part of the "ABC" line with two other young forwards, Mark Bell and Kyle Calder.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the very early morning of January 21, 2003, Arnason was involved in an off-ice incident. Arnason, Phil Housley and Theoren Fleury were leaving the Pure Platinum strip club in Columbus, Ohio when Fleury punched the club's manager in the face. Housley and Arnason had to step in to prevent Fleury from being beaten by the bouncers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> On August 11, 2005, Arnason re-signed with the Blackhawks for one year.<ref name="blackhawks"/>

By the 2005–06 NHL season, Arnason was no longer a prospect and was considered as having not played to his potential.<ref name="cbc">Template:Cite web</ref> With the Blackhawks that season, Arnason had tallied 13 goals and 41 points in 60 games<ref name="bunda">Template:Cite web</ref> when, on March 9, 2006, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Brandon Bochenski and a second-round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ottawa's intent was for Arnason to center the second line.<ref name="cbc"/> In the nineteen games he played for Ottawa in the regular season, he registered four assists and failed to score a goal. He was a healthy scratch in the playoffs.<ref name="bunda"/> As a restricted free agent the Senators chose not to give him a qualifying offer, so he became an unrestricted free agent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:TylerArnason.jpg

Arnason during his time in Colorado.

On July 1, 2006, Arnason signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. As his father played for the Rockies for two seasons, Arnason’s signing made him the first son of a former Rockies player to play for the Avalanche.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Arnason enjoyed a return to form by posting 49 points for the Avalanche in the 2006–07 season. He was consequently awarded a two-year extension by the Avalanche on June 22, 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His second season with the Avalanche saw Arnason tally 10 goals and 31 points in 70 games. In his third and final season in Colorado, he registered 5 goals and 21 points in 70 games.<ref name="rangers">Template:Cite web</ref>

On July 3, 2009, Arnason signed a one-year two-way contract with the New York Rangers for the 2009–10 season.<ref name="rangers"/> On September 17, 2009, Arnason failed to make the Rangers out of training camp and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, for the beginning of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On November 10, 2009, without the ambition to play in the AHL he was suspended by the Rangers and released from his contract to sign with the European team Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following a difficult transition and recording only 11 points in 26 games, Arnason's contract was not renewed by Riga at season's end.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Returning to North America, as a free agent, he accepted a tryout invitation to attend the Florida Panthers training camp for the 2010–11 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Subsequently, released from the Panthers during the preseason, Arnason then initially accepted another invite to his local AHL club, the Manitoba Moose, affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, before electing to not report to camp on September 27, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Arnason then accepted a temporary contract to return to Europe, signing with Swiss team EHC Biel of the National League A (NLA) on October 14, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He scored 10 points in 9 games with Biel before he moved on to EHC Visp of the National League B (NLB), signing a contract for the remainder of the season on November 11, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, a week later, Arnason was released playing in just a single game with Visp, after both parties mutually opted to exercise an exit clause in the contract on November 18, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On January 31, 2011, Arnason joined Finnish team, Espoo Blues, for the remainder of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, his tenure with his new club was again short lived, as after 8 games, Arnason sought a release from the Blues to return to the United States on February 28, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On October 7, 2011, Arnason was named on the Texas Stars opening night roster for the 2011–12 AHL season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After seven games with the Stars, Arnason opted to be released from his try-out on October 29 and ended his professional career.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

International play

Arnason played for Team USA at the 2007 IIHF World Championship. He scored in Team USA's final game against Finland, which Finland won 5–4. Team USA finished fifth in the tournament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	Winnipeg Warriors AAA	Midget		39	19	25	44	20		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Winnipeg South Blues	MJHL		50	35	50	85	15		6	3	3	6	18
1997–98	Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks	USHL		52	37	45	82	16		4	1	1	2	2
1998–99	St. Cloud State University	WCHA		38	14	17	31	16		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	St. Cloud State University	WCHA		39	19	30	49	18		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	St. Cloud State University	WCHA		41	28	28	56	14		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		60	26	30	56	42		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		21	3	1	4	4		3	0	0	0	0
2002–03	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		82	19	20	39	20		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		82	22	33	55	16		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Brynäs IF	SEL		4	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		60	13	28	41	40		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Ottawa Senators	NHL		19	0	4	4	4		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		82	16	33	49	26		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		70	10	21	31	16		10	2	3	5	2
2008–09	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		71	5	17	22	14		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		11	0	3	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Dinamo Riga	KHL		26	4	7	11	6		3	0	1	1	0
2010–11	EHC Biel	NLA		9	5	5	10	0		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	EHC Visp	NLB		1	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Blues	SM-l		8	0	4	4	0		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Texas Stars	AHL		7	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				487	88	157	245	140		13	2	3	5	2

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007	United States	WC	5th		7	1	3	4	0
Senior totals					7	1	3	4	0

Awards and honors

Award	Year
Junior
MJHL Rookie of the Year	1996–97
USHL First All-Star Team	1997–98
College
WCHA Rookie Team	1998–99
WCHA Second Team	1999–00
WCHA All-Tournament Team	2001	<ref name=tournament>Template:Cite news</ref>
AHL
All-Star Game	2002	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
All-Rookie Team	2001–02
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award	2001–02	<ref name = "Dud"/>
NHL
YoungStars Game	2002–03	<ref name = "NHL"/>
All-Rookie Team	2002–03

See also

• List of family relations in the NHL

External links

• Template:Icehockeystats