New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has signed center
Tom Pyatt to a professional contract.
Pyatt, 20, has skated in 56 games with the
Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season, registering 42 goals and 38 assists for 80 points, along with a plus-32 rating and 18 penalty minutes. Among league leaders, the OHL Western Conference All-Star is currently tied for first in game-winning goals (nine), tied for third in shorthanded goals (six), tied for sixth in goals (42), and tied for 11th in plus/minus (+32).
Since February 18, Pyatt has notched 12 goals and six assists in 10 games. In addition, he recorded four points (one goal and three assists) in six games at the 2007 World Junior Championships in Leksand, Sweden and helped Team Canada capture its third consecutive gold medal on January 5.
The 6-0, 190-pound center has skated in 238 career games with Saginaw (OHL), registering 93 goals and 106 assists for 199 points, along with 82 penalty minutes. Last season, Pyatt earned Western Conference MVP honors at the 2006 OHL All-Star Classic and was named the best defensive forward in the 2005-06 OHL Western Conference Coaches Poll.
He finished the season third on the Spirit in goals (24), fourth in assists (29) and fourth on the club in scoring with 53 points. In the 2006 postseason, he collected one goal and two assists, along with four penalty minutes in four games.
Aside from his appearance at the 2007 World Junior Championships, Pyatt was also a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2006 World Junior Tournament in Vancouver, registering one goal in six games.
The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario was originally the Rangers’ fourth round choice, 107th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He is the younger brother of
Vancouver Canucks forward
Taylor Pyatt.