Jeff Taffe

Jeff Taffe
Born	February 19, 1981 (1981-02-19) Hastings, MN, USA
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Minnesota Wild Florida Panthers Phoenix Coyotes New York Rangers Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft	30th overall, 2000 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2002–present

Jeffrey Charles Taffe (born February 19, 1981) is an American center for the Minnesota Wild organization. Taffe was drafted in the first round, 30th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

After playing three seasons with the University of Minnesota, during which the Blues traded his rights to the Phoenix Coyotes in a deal involving Keith Tkachuk, Taffe made his professional debut with Coyotes' American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, in the 2002–03 season. He also appeared in 20 NHL games with the Coyotes that same season, scoring three goals.

Taffe spent the 2004-2005 season as a member of the American Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies. On November 28, 2004, Taffe was involved in an on-ice incident where he elbowed Houston Aeros goalie Josh Harding in the back of Harding's neck, resulting in a grade two concussion to Harding. Taffe was suspended for four games by the league.

Taffe appeared in 82 games over parts of three seasons with the Coyotes before being traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for Jamie Lundmark during the 2005–06 season. He appeared in two games with the Rangers, before being traded back to Phoenix later in the season in exchange for Martin Sonnenberg.

On July 13, 2007, Taffe signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After beginning the 2007–08 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Taffe was recalled to Pittsburgh and found a checking role on the fourth line. He remained on the team as a healthy scratch in the playoffs that year as Adam Hall was favored to fill Taffe's fourth line position.

After re-signing with the Penguins, Taffe played a handful of games with Pittsburgh during the 2008–09 season mainly playing in Wilkes-Barre. After Wilkes-Barre was eliminated from the AHL playoffs, Taffe was recalled for the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff run and eventual 2009 Stanley Cup Championship. He was on the practice squad but did not play in any games and was not included on the Stanley Cup due to this fact. However, Taffe and a number of other Wilkes-Barre players and healthy scratches took part in the on-ice celebration and team photo.

Taffe then signed a two year, two-way deal with the Florida Panthers on July 3, 2009.At this point Taffe started to play very few NHL games and mostly played in the American Hockey League, receiving very few call-ups.

The Florida Panthers traded Jeff Taffe to the Chicago Blackhawks for Marty Reasoner on July 22, 2010. Taffe was assigned to Chicago's AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs shortly before the 2010 NHL regular season began.

On July 3, 2011, Taffe signed a two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild.

Awards

• 1998–99 Minnesota Mr. Hockey (most outstanding senior high school player in Minnesota)
• 2001–02 WCHA Third All-Star Team

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998–99	Rochester Mustangs	USHL		17	12	9	21	26		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	University of Minnesota	WCHA		39	10	10	20	22		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	University of Minnesota	WCHA		38	12	23	35	56		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	University of Minnesota	WCHA		43	34	24	58	86		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Springfield Falcons	AHL		57	23	26	49	44		5	0	3	3	8
2002–03	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		20	3	1	4	4		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Springfield Falcons	AHL		15	10	6	16	19		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		59	8	10	18	20		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Utah Grizzlies	AHL		27	9	10	19	35		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	New York Rangers	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		36	6	16	22	34		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		33	5	6	11	29		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		59	20	20	40	22		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		17	4	2	6	2		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		27	11	10	21	22		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		45	5	7	12	8		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		74	25	50	75	65		12	5	6	11	22
2008–09	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		8	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Rochester Americans	AHL		61	28	28	56	47		7	1	6	7	9
2009–10	Florida Panthers	NHL		21	1	1	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		74	30	37	67	22		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
NHL Totals				175	21	23	44	40		—	—	—	—	—

External links

• Jeff Taffe's NHL player profile
• Jeff Taffe's career stats at Eliteprospects.com
• Jeff Taffe's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Johnny Pohl	Minnesota Mr. Hockey 1998–99 season	Succeeded by Paul Martin
Preceded by Barret Jackman	St. Louis Blues first round draft pick 2000	Succeeded by Shawn Belle