Taylor Pyatt

Infobox Ice Hockey Player

---

image_size=230px
team = Vancouver Canucks
former_teams = Buffalo Sabres
New York Islanders
league = NHL
position = Right Wing
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 4
weight_lb = 235
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1981|8|19
birth_place = Thunder Bay, ON, CAN
draft = 8th overall
draft_year = 1999
draft_team = New York Islanders
career_start = 2000

Taylor Pyatt (born August 19, 1981 in Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. He played his junior career with the OHL's Sudbury Wolves. He has also played professionally for the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres.

Playing career

Pyatt played three seasons, beginning in 1997-98, with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. After putting up 75 points in 68 games in his second OHL season, Pyatt was drafted 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.

In 2000-01, Pyatt made the final cut out of the Islanders' training camp as the only player with no prior NHL experience. [citeweb|last=Kellner|first=Jenny|title=Pyatt impresses Islanders|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E4DA143DF933A0575AC0A9669C8B63|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-03-16] He would score his first NHL goal on November 27, 2000, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. [citeweb|title=Pyatt helps Islanders end skid|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-558404.html|publisher=Washington Post|accessdate=2008-03-16] After Pyatt's rookie season, in which he netted 18 points in 78 games, the Islanders would send him to the Buffalo Sabres with Tim Connolly for Selke Trophy winner Mike Peca in a draft-day trade.

During the 2004-05 lockout, Pyatt went overseas to play for Hammarby IF of Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan league.

After four seasons with Buffalo, on July 14, 2006, Pyatt was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round draft pick in 2007 (later traded by Buffalo to the Calgary Flames). Pyatt benefitted from playing on the Canucks' top line with twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin, [citeweb|title=Pyatt doing just fine bulging the twine|url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=e8aa91f8-bb0d-4ab3-99a2-93cbde21eaff|accessdate=2008-09-19|publisher=Vancouver Sun] leading to career highs in goals and points, with 23 and 37 respectively.

On January 13, 2008, Pyatt took a puck to the face. He required 25 stitches and a splint to hold up his teeth. Although he did not play on the Canucks top line, Pyatt completed the 2007-08 season matching his career-high of 37 points, as well as setting a new career mark for assists with 21.

Awards & achievements

* OHL First All-Star Team - 2000

Family

Pyatt is is one of three sons of Kathie and former NHL player Nelson Pyatt. His younger brother, Tom Pyatt, is a prospect with the New York Rangers organization, who helped Team Canada win a gold medal at the 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships.

Career statistics

References

External links

*nhlprofile|8467881
*hockeydb|31777