Tuesday, July 15, 2008

UFA Signing: Dick Tarnstrom

Defenseman Dick Tarnstrom has returned to the team and country that started his professional ice hockey career signing a 1 year deal with AIK (Solna) of the Hockeyallsvenskan (Sweden's 2nd highest league). Monetary terms of the deal are unknown but it appears the 1 year deal has a second year option attached to it, or as the team's website referred to a 1 + 1 contract.

Tarnstrom was originally selected in the 11th Round (that does not even exist anymore!), 272nd overall of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Islanders. He played his first 9 professional seasons with AIK before making the jump to the NHL during the 2001-02 season. Tarnstrom played only 62 games with the Isles notching 19 points (3 goals, 6 assists) befored winding his way to the Penguins, Stanley Cup contender Oilers and Blue Jackets. Tarnstrom has always had a spotty NHL resume opting one time to play in Switzerland following the Oilers near Cup winning drive instead of returning to the team the following season. In 306 NHL games Tarnstrom has notched 35 goals and 105 assists for 140 points. He has a career -86 rating with 254 penalty minutes, 20 powerplay goals and surprisingly 0 game winning tallies.

We wish Dick the best with his original squad and leave the post with this bright observation from AIK's website: "Dick has also been very good shot, where he will celebrate the great triumphs of the power play".

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