Tyler Pitlick Bio
Tyler Pitlick is an American professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on November 1, 1991, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was selected 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL entry draft. Across more than a decade in professional hockey, Pitlick has built a reputation as a hardworking, two-way forward who can contribute on the penalty kill and at the center position, while moving between several organizations and competing at both the NHL and American Hockey League (AHL) levels.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Pitlick was born on November 1, 1991, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Champlin, Minnesota, before moving with his mother Amy to Lino Lakes and later to Centerville during middle school. His father, John, worked as a researcher in Minneapolis and served as a local hockey coach, although he chose not to coach his son directly. The Minneapolis area’s strong youth hockey culture provided an early foundation for Pitlick’s development as a forward.
Path to Hockey
After a freshman season at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Pitlick played one season of major junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. On April 13, 2011, the Edmonton Oilers signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract, marking his formal entry into professional hockey. His path through college, junior, and finally the NHL reflected a steady climb built on physical play and two-way responsibility rather than high-scoring flash.
Tyler Pitlick Career
Early Career (2011-2014)
Pitlick began his professional career with the Oklahoma City Barons, Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, during the 2011-12 season. After an early adjustment period, he became a regular contributor and finished his rookie AHL season with seven goals and 23 points in 62 games, ranking second among Edmonton prospects with 130 shots on goal. The following season was interrupted by a concussion and a knee injury, limiting him to 44 games with the Barons.
He made his NHL debut on October 22, 2013, after being called up when Oilers forward Taylor Hall suffered a knee injury. Four days later, he scored his first NHL goal against Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes, but a knee injury in the same game caused him to miss 19 games. In total, Pitlick appeared in 11 NHL games that season while also posting eight goals and 22 points with Oklahoma City.
Dallas Stars Era (2017-2019)
After becoming a free agent, Pitlick signed a three-year, $3 million contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2017. He started strongly on a line with Radek Faksa and Antoine Roussel, earning praise from general manager Jim Nill for his speed and energy. In his first full NHL season, Pitlick played 80 of 82 games and finished with 14 goals and 13 assists while posting a plus-9 rating.
During 2018-19, Pitlick anchored the Stars’ third line and penalty kill before undergoing wrist surgery in February to repair a displaced tendon. He returned in April and scored a key third-period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers that helped clinch a playoff berth for Dallas. Across 47 regular-season games, he recorded 12 points, and he added six appearances in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs as the Stars advanced to the second round.
Philadelphia Flyers Era (2019-2020)
On June 24, 2019, Dallas traded Pitlick to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ryan Hartman. He missed the start of training camp after wrist surgery and posted only two goals in his first 26 games before earning more ice time, eventually replacing James van Riemsdyk on the top line during an injury absence. In 63 games before the NHL paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitlick contributed eight goals, 12 assists, and a plus-11 rating while focusing on the penalty kill.
When the NHL resumed in Toronto, Pitlick was one of 31 Flyers selected for the playoff bubble. He played meaningful minutes on the third and fourth lines, including a strong performance with Michael Raffl and Nate Thompson against the Boston Bruins. Across 16 playoff games, he scored two goals and one assist.
Arizona Coyotes and Calgary Flames Era (2020-2021)
Pitlick signed a two-year deal with the Arizona Coyotes with an annual cap hit of $1.75 million. General manager Bill Armstrong cited Pitlick’s physicality as a key reason for the signing, and Pitlick earned praise throughout the shortened 2020-21 season for his energy, speed, and forechecking strength. On March 6, 2021, he scored two goals against the Minnesota Wild, his first multi-goal game since December 2017. In 38 games with Arizona, he registered six goals, five assists, 81 hits, and 41 blocked shots.
On July 21, 2021, the Seattle Kraken selected Pitlick from Arizona in the 2021 NHL expansion draft. The following day, Seattle traded him to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL entry draft, continuing his pattern of mid-summer movement.
Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers Era (2022-2024)
On February 14, 2022, Pitlick was traded to the Montreal Canadiens along with Emil Heineman and draft picks in exchange for winger Tyler Toffoli, joining his cousin Rem. After recovering from an injury, he played out the remainder of the 2021-22 season with the last-place Canadiens, registering three points in 14 games.
As an unsigned free agent, Pitlick accepted a professional tryout contract with the St. Louis Blues on September 1, 2022, and was later signed to a one-year deal after Pavel Buchnevich was placed on injured reserve. He appeared in 61 regular-season games, contributing seven goals and 16 points as the Blues missed the post-season. On July 1, 2023, he signed a one-year, $787,500 contract with the New York Rangers, but was placed on waivers on February 13, 2024, after recording only one goal and four points in 34 games, and was later reassigned to Hartford before being recalled for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Minnesota Wild Era (2025-Present)
Following a professional tryout with the Providence Bruins of the AHL and a two-way contract with the Boston Bruins, Pitlick signed a two-year, two-way contract with his hometown Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2025. The deal marked his return to the organization where his parents lived and worked, and gave him a clear opportunity to contribute in a bottom-six forward role.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pitlick has built his career on speed, forechecking, and penalty-killing responsibility rather than top-line scoring. Coaches have consistently praised his work rate, shot-blocking willingness, and physical edge, traits that have made him a reliable third- or fourth-line forward and a trusted presence in specialty-team situations across multiple organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NHL goal came against Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes in October 2013, just four days after his debut. Later highlights include a multi-goal performance against the Minnesota Wild in March 2021 and a return-from-injury goal that helped clinch a playoff spot for Dallas in 2019, both moments that underscored his resilience and timing.
Tyler Pitlick Career Wins
Tyler Pitlick’s professional record features steady offensive contributions rather than trophy-laden headlines. Across the AHL and NHL, he has posted double-digit goal totals in multiple seasons and contributed key goals during playoff pushes, while also earning recognition for his shot-blocking, hits, and special-teams work. His win totals reflect the role of a reliable depth forward who has played for eight NHL organizations.
NHL Regular Season Highlights
In his first full NHL season with the Dallas Stars in 2017-18, Pitlick scored 14 goals and added 13 assists in 80 games. With the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019-20, he contributed eight goals and 12 assists in 63 games while posting a plus-11 rating. Across stints with Arizona, Calgary, Montreal, St. Louis, and the New York Rangers, he added further goals and assists as a depth contributor.
Other Wins and Performances
In the AHL, Pitlick was a consistent contributor with Oklahoma City, Barons, and later Providence, where he posted 33 points in 43 appearances during 2024-25 before signing with the Boston Bruins. His playoff appearances include six games with Dallas in 2019 and 16 games with Philadelphia during the 2020 bubble playoffs, where he scored two goals and one assist.
Tyler Pitlick Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Tyler Pitlick comes from a hockey-playing family with deep roots in the sport. His uncle Lance Pitlick played 339 NHL games with the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators, giving Tyler an early connection to professional hockey. His cousin Rem Pitlick was drafted 76th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2016 and has played in the NHL, while another cousin, Rhett Pitlick, played NCAA hockey for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Mankato before being drafted 131st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2019.
Personal Life
Pitlick grew up moving between Champlin, Lino Lakes, and Centerville in Minnesota to stay close to his mother Amy, while his father John remained in Minneapolis. Returning to the Minnesota Wild in 2025 allowed him to reconnect with his hometown roots after more than a decade traveling between NHL cities.
2025 Season Performance
Tyler Pitlick signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2025, beginning a new chapter with his hometown organization. The deal gave him a clear opportunity to compete for a bottom-six forward role and contribute on the penalty kill, areas where he has built his professional reputation. After spending 2024-25 split between Providence of the AHL and the Boston Bruins, the move to Minnesota offered both a familiar setting and a fresh start.
Throughout his career, Pitlick has shown he can produce when given consistent ice time, posting 14 goals in 2017-18 with Dallas and contributing key goals during Philadelphia’s 2020 playoff run. With the Wild, he is expected to focus on energy, forechecking, and defensive responsibility rather than top-line scoring. His familiarity with the organization and the region may help him settle quickly into the lineup as the season unfolds.