Tyler Myers Bio
Tyler Paul Myers is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on February 1, 1990, in Houston, Texas, Myers moved to Calgary, Alberta, as a child and later acquired Canadian citizenship, giving him dual nationality. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, 12th overall, in the 2008 NHL entry draft and went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2009-10. Standing at 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) tall, he is one of the tallest active players in the league.
Across his NHL career, Myers has played for the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, and Vancouver Canucks, establishing himself as a durable, minutes-eating defenceman. He reached the 1,000-game milestone on October 19, 2024, becoming the 400th skater in league history to do so. Myers has also represented Canada in international competition, collecting multiple gold medals at the junior and senior levels.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Paul Myers was born on February 1, 1990, in Houston, Texas, to parents Tonja Stelly and Paul Myers III. When he was six years old, his father took him to his first hockey game, a Houston Aeros contest in the International Hockey League. The experience sparked a quick interest in the sport, and Myers began playing shortly afterward.
In 2000, when Tyler was ten, Paul relocated to Calgary, Alberta, and Tyler joined him there. The move to Canada proved decisive in his development, and Myers has said he would likely have pursued a different sport, often speculated to be basketball, had he remained in Texas. He later obtained Canadian citizenship, holding dual Canadian-American nationality.
Myers continued his minor hockey career at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, playing for the Hounds, a AAA midget program. His size and mobility quickly marked him as a top prospect, and he was selected 19th overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the first round of the 2005 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft.
Path to Professional Hockey
Myers began his major junior career with the Kelowna Rockets in 2005-06, developing into one of the WHL’s most promising defencemen. Following his NHL draft year in 2007-08, he was ranked fourth among North American draft-eligible skaters by the NHL’s Central Scouting Services. He was selected 12th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2008 NHL entry draft after Buffalo moved up from the 13th spot.
In 2008-09, Myers helped the Rockets capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions, producing a junior career-high 42 points in the regular season and adding 20 points during the playoff run. He was named WHL Playoff MVP for his efforts. On May 11, 2009, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres, completing his transition to professional hockey.
Tyler Myers Career
Junior and Entry-Level Years (2005-2009)
Myers’ three full seasons with the Kelowna Rockets established him as a cornerstone defenceman and a future NHL player. His production grew steadily, peaking with a 42-point regular season and a WHL championship in 2008-09. The Rockets’ third Ed Chynoweth Cup title was built largely on his two-way play during the playoffs.
The Sabres’ investment in his development paid off when they signed him to an entry-level deal in May 2009. Myers then joined Buffalo’s organization full-time, beginning a path that would lead to immediate NHL success.
Buffalo Sabres Era (2009-2015)
Myers started the 2009-10 season with the Sabres and recorded his first NHL point, an assist, on October 8, 2009, against the Phoenix Coyotes. He scored his first NHL goal eight days later against Dwayne Roloson of the New York Islanders. By late October, after a strong opening stretch, Buffalo decided to keep him in the NHL rather than return him to junior.
He quickly became the Sabres’ top defenceman, leading the team in average ice time per game. In January 2010, Myers was named NHL Rookie of the Month after posting 10 points and averaging 24 minutes and 42 seconds of ice time. He finished his rookie campaign with 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy on June 23, 2010.
On September 15, 2011, the Sabres signed Myers to a seven-year, $38.5 million contract. Injuries and a 2012-13 lockout that sent him briefly to Klagenfurt AC in Austria punctuated his Buffalo years. On April 12, 2013, the Sabres announced he had broken a bone in his leg and would miss the rest of that season.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2015-2019)
On February 11, 2015, Myers was traded, along with Drew Stafford, Brendan Lemieux, Joel Armia, and a conditional first-round pick, to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian, and the rights to Jason Kasdorf. His first full Jets season ended early on March 24, 2016, when he underwent hip and knee surgeries.
The following season, Myers played only 11 games before a separate lower-body injury required surgery and ended his 2016-17 campaign. He rebounded in 2017-18, playing all 82 regular-season games for the first time since his rookie year, recording 6 goals and 30 assists for 36 points, and helping Winnipeg reach the Western Conference Final, where the Jets lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2019-Present)
On July 1, 2019, Myers signed a five-year, $30 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent. He scored his first goal for Vancouver on December 7, 2019, in a 6-5 overtime win against his former team, the Buffalo Sabres. On June 27, 2024, the Canucks re-signed him to a three-year, $9 million contract, securing his place in the organization through 2027.
On October 19, 2024, Myers played his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the 400th skater in league history to reach that milestone. On January 20, 2025, he received a three-game suspension for cross-checking Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard.
Driving Style and Strengths
Myers is known for pairing rare height, 6 ft 8 in, with smooth mobility and a long, effective reach. He logs heavy minutes in all situations, anchors penalty kills, and contributes offensively from the back end. His calm puck-moving and physicality allow coaches to deploy him in high-leverage defensive matchups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his 2009-10 Calder Memorial Trophy win, his 1,000th NHL game on October 19, 2024, and three international gold medals for Canada at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships, 2009 World Junior Championships, and 2023 IIHF World Championships. He also helped the Rockets win the 2009 Ed Chynoweth Cup and was named WHL Playoff MVP.
Tyler Myers Career Wins
Tyler Myers has collected major wins across junior, NHL, and international hockey. He owns a WHL championship, a Calder Memorial Trophy, and three gold medals with Team Canada at the U18, World Junior, and senior World Championship levels.
Junior and NHL Highlights
Myers won the 2009 Ed Chynoweth Cup with the Kelowna Rockets and was named WHL Playoff MVP. In the NHL, his signature victory remains the 2010 Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s top rookie after a 48-point debut season. He reached the Western Conference Final with the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18 and skated in his 1,000th NHL game on October 19, 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Myers helped Canada win gold at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships in Kazan, Russia, and at the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, where Canada tied the record with a fifth straight title. He added a third gold at the 2023 IIHF World Championships, cementing his resume as a proven international competitor.
Tyler Myers Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Myers was raised by his father, Paul Myers III, and his mother, Tonja Stelly. Paul introduced Tyler to hockey at age six by taking him to a Houston Aeros game, an event that shaped his future. His younger maternal half-brother, Quentin Grimes, is an American basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), making Tyler and Quentin the first known set of brothers to play in both the NHL and NBA.
Personal Life
Myers married his wife in 2014, and the couple has three children together. The family resides in Calgary, Alberta, the city Tyler moved to as a child and where he developed his hockey career.
2025 Season Performance
Myers opened 2024-25 with a milestone moment, skating in his 1,000th NHL game on October 19, 2024. He continued to serve as an alternate captain and a top-pairing defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks under his new three-year contract. On January 20, 2025, he received a three-game suspension for cross-checking Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, briefly sidelining him during the stretch.
Through the early months of the calendar year, Myers remained a steady presence on the Canucks’ blue line, logging heavy minutes in all situations. His veteran leadership and physical, minutes-eating style continued to anchor a defensive group pushing for a playoff position. The Canucks leaned on his penalty-killing and puck-moving abilities as they chased postseason contention.
Looking ahead through the rest of 2025, Myers is expected to remain a core part of Vancouver’s defensive core. With his contract running through 2027, he will continue to chase additional milestones while mentoring younger defencemen on the roster. His blend of size, experience, and international pedigree positions him as a key figure in the Canucks’ long-term plans.