Vegas Golden Knights forward Tanner Pearson will skate in his 700th career NHL game tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Pearson, now 32 years old, has put together a fantastic career. He's a Stanley Cup champion and has been a vital piece of multiple NHL teams.
His 12 year career has seen him play with the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens and now the Golden Knights. His career-high of 24 goals and 45 points have helped him score 147 goals and 304 points.
After a pair of seasons where injuries hampered his play, Pearson agreed to a professional try-out with the Golden Knights during their training camp and earned his contract. After signing his deal, Pearson has played in all but three games, recording nine goals and 19 points.
Ahead of his 700th game, the 30th overall pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft spoke to the media about what reaching this milestone means to him.
"Cool, I think. Every time you hit a milestone like that, you look back as a kid and obviously this was the dream right? So, for it to become a reality and play long as I’ve been around has been a privilege."
Pearson has become trusted by the HC Bruce Cassidy and the coaching staff. Although his ice time is lowest of his career outside of his rookie campaign, Pearson has been used up and down the lineup and in some critical defensive situations.
"Well he’s a dependable guy. You know what you’re getting every night," said HC Bruce Cassidy. "He’s found a way to stay in the league and play in the league and be valuable. He was a first round pick, scored in junior, scored in Manchester, has scored here but that’s not his calling card every night. I don’t know if he’s played a lot of power play in his days but he’s a 5-on-5 scorer, good north-south player and good on the walls. Reliable and dependable, I think that’s the way you talk about Tanner Pearson. Doesn’t always sound sexy but it helps you win a lot of games."
Pearson has been a great addition to the Golden Knights, showing his worth on the ice and through his veteran leadership. On a very cost-efficient contract, Pearson has been worth every penny.
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