Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Eric Tangradi hopeful of return to major league -NHL offseason Update
Eric Tangradi, a 22-year-old left winger, was hopeful of beginning his career in the National Hockey League (NHL) in a more permanent sort of position after he was drafted as Pittsburgh Penguins 42nd overall pick during round-two of the 2007 NHL
Entry Draft.
Unfortunately, Tangradi was hit during a game against New York Islanders earlier in February and was forced out due to a severe concussion that he had sustained. Now in recent days, Tangradi has shown signs of improvement and also believes himself that it
is only a matter of time till he is back on the ice.
"I feel 100 percent, if not better", Tangradi said. "I learned a lot from the injury and it was a tough grind getting back out there, but I had a really good summer … getting in the gym and putting on some extra weight to get ready for another hockey season".
Now have reached that age which does not classify the player either as a veteran or a rookie, Tangradi certainly thinks that his role as a player is much bigger now since there are new and more aspiring players looking for leadership out on the ice.
"I think my role here is to be a leader", Tangradi said. "I think being one of the older guys and having so much experience at the rookie tournament, I'm just trying to make sure the younger guys are familiar with the system”.
The young forward flew on the NHL’s radar after his constantly improving performance with Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He played a total of 16 games in the NHL with Pittsburgh thus far, registering a total of three points (1 goal,
2 assists).
Throughout the past two seasons, Eric Tangradi has been switching in between the major and minor league clubs, playing for Wilkes-Barre Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Being older and more experienced, Tangradi is not only hoping for a fixed spot on the roster but is also hoping to lead the younger players into the league.
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