Panthers Acquire Nick Tarnasky

Forward Nick Tarnasky (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager Jacques Martin announced today that the club has acquired F Nick Tarnasky from the Nashville Predators in exchange for RW/D Wade Belak.

“Nick is a hard working, tough and responsible player who will fit well on our club,” said Martin. “He is an individual that will add speed, grittiness and a physical presence to our line-up each night.”

Tarnasky, 24, played in 11 games for the Nashville Predators this season recording one assist with 17 penalty minutes. For his NHL career, he has appeared in 180 games (Nashville 2008-09 & Tampa Bay 2005-08) scoring 11 goals with 10 assists and 179 PIM. Last year, he played in 80 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning recording 10 points (6-4-10) with 78 PIM.

The Rocky Mountain House, Alberta native was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning with their 11th choice (287th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
 
Sunrise Sports & Entertainment is the premier company of its kind in South Florida. Home to more than 185 events annually and the Florida Panthers Hockey Club, the BankAtlantic Center is consistently a top 15 worldwide venue according to Pollstar. The BankAtlantic Center welcomes more than two million guests each year and is also the home of Sawgrass Live presented by BankAtlantic and three publications Unrestricted and Panthers Insider.


Nick Tarnasky’s Career Statistics:

                                                                     --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----

Season   Team                                  Lge    GP    G    A    Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001-02  Vancouver Giants            WHL    10    1     0     1    5  --  --  --  --  --
2002-03  Kelowna Rockets            WHL    39    4    12  16   39  --  --  --  --  --
2002-03  Lethbridge Hurricanes   WHL    30    5     8   13   45  --  --  --  --  --
2003-04  Lethbridge Hurricanes   WHL    71   26   23  49  108  --  --  --  --  --
2004-05  Springfield Falcons         AHL     80    7    10  17  176  --  --  --  --  --
2005-06  Springfield Falcons         AHL     68   14    9   23  100  --  --  --  --  --
2005-06  Tampa Bay Lightning     NHL     12    0     1    1     4  --  --  --  --  --
2006-07  Tampa Bay Lightning     NHL     77    5     4    9    80   6   0   0   0  10
2007-08  Tampa Bay Lightning     NHL     80    6     4   10   78
2008-09  Nashville Predators        NHL     11    0     1    1   17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         NHL Totals                        180   11   10   21  179   6   0   0   0  10