Stefen Rosner on 'Running It Back' EAST MEADOW, NY -- A familiar face is back with the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/julien-gauthier-new-york-islanders-jean-gabriel-pageau-lane-lambert-2], and that's forward Tanner Fritz [https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=112429]. Fritz was a member of the Islanders organization for the better part of six years after going undrafted in 2015. Predominantly a Bridgeportee — with 46 goals and 89 assists in 198 games — Fritz did get some NHL action over his tenure. Donning two numbers during his tenure -- No. 11 & No. 56 -- Fritz scored three goals with five assists in 42 NHL games, playing 34 in 2017-18 but just eight in 2018-19. Following the 2020-21 season, the former Ohio State Buckeye joined the New York Rangers organization, playing 129 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack (2021-2023) with 23 goals and 56 assists. The Wolf Pack finished second in the Atlantic Division and made it as far as the quarterfinals before the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals' AHL affiliate) swept them away. Fritz had one goal and nine assists in 10 playoff games. No longer a young buck, Fritz, aside from skating a regular shift, has the added responsibility of helping lead a young Bridgeport group on and off the ice — especially with the likes of leaders Andy Andreoff and Chris Terry no longer with the club. As for why Fritz decided to come back to the organization and why the organization wanted him back, it was just something that worked out for both sides. "It was a little bit of both," Fritz said. "I kept a relationship with Chris [Lamoriello] throughout my time in Hartford. After my time in Hartford -- it was kind of done there -- I started looking around and wanting to stay local, so my family is in Farmington, Connecticut. My son's got some health issues, special needs, so he's in a really good program in Farmington. We wanted to stay close and be able to be in a spot where I was able to commute back and forth and still be with my family." Fritz said that his son started going through some stuff at seven months old. Now, at four years old, he's in a good spot, thankfully. The now 32-year-old is in a different spot in his hockey career since leaving the Islanders for the first time. But he still believes in himself, and his goal is to prove that. "[I'm trying to prove] that I can still play. It's been three years now since I've been to training camp here," Fritz said. "I went through some health issues my last two years with the organization. I had hip surgery in 2019, and I had a tough time recovering from that, and then COVID-19 came. So, I didn't really play a ton of hockey in a year and a half." Hip injuries are no joke. "That was tough. I had it in October of 2019, and then COVID came around," Fritz said. "I think it was March, and then I was just trying to get back on the ice. My son went through some health stuff, so my focus went on him during that COVID time. I kind of let my hip go a little bit. I was more focused on him, and I didn't really know the path I was gonna go. I just wanted to make sure that he was taken care of, and we're doing everything we could for him." Fritz continued: "Then, once the season was going to come back, I started getting back on the ice, but that was a tough process, trying to balance family life and kids. During those times, it was just me, my wife, and my son. So yeah, obviously, that was a long year and a half, but then we went into that 20 game COVID season. I just wasn't ready and didn't perform like I should. And that's part of the game. And I put family first, and where I'm at now, I'm happy, so my son's in a good spot. So I think everything happens for a reason." With Hartford, Fritz proved that he can still play and be a veteran that youngsters can lean on. And that's exactly what his goals are here. "I think I pride myself on trying to be a good leader, leading on and off the ice and just try to lead by example and help those guys as much as I can," Fritz said. "I know when I was going through that process of being somewhat of a prospect, it's always nice to have an older shoulder to lean on and talk to. "Hopefully, I can do that for a couple of guys." As a prospect with New York, Fritz leaned heavily on a grizzled veteran, a name you probably haven't heard in years. "When I first got to the Bridge, Bracken Kearns [was a mentor]," Fritz said. He was great for the younger guys. He was a good influence on me. He was one of those older guys who just kind of kept getting the job done and stuck around a long time playing pro hockey and was still good and such a professional. I learned a lot from them." There's no question that Fritz wants to be in the NHL, but he's also taking pleasure in seeing his former teammates thrive on the NHL stage. "It's fun to watch those guys succeed at the highest level. I played in Bridgeport with Pulock, a little bit with Pelech and Ross [Johnston], and a little bit with Wahlstrom," Fritz said. "Just seeing some of those guys become somewhat superstars in the league, it's fun to watch. You root for those guys because they're not only good players but good people," Fritz hasn't played an NHL game since March 26, 2019. But the belief in himself, after what he's been through, is still there. "I still believe in myself that I could do it, but I guess you never know if you get that chance," Frtiz said. "I still play and prepare like one day I might get that chance to [play in the NHL again]. There's no reason not to keep playing. The dream is to always be in the NHL, but reality hits you. I always prepare like I'm gonna [get back]."
