Dick Tärnström

Dick Tärnström
Born	(1975-01-20) January 20, 1975 Sundbyberg, Sweden
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Defenceman
Shot	Left
Played for	NHL New York Islanders Pittsburgh Penguins Edmonton Oilers Columbus Blue Jackets SEL AIK
National team	Sweden
NHL draft	272nd overall, 1994 New York Islanders
Playing career	1992–2013

Dick Tärnström (born January 20, 1975) is a Swedish retired professional ice hockey defenceman. During the majority of his 21-year-long playing career, Tärnström played for AIK of the Swedish top-tier league Elitserien (SEL). He was the captain for AIK during the five last seasons of his career. He also spent five years in the National Hockey League (NHL), playing for the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

In January 2013, while playing for AIK, Tärnström was forced to retire due to a spinal disc herniation injury.

Playing career

Tärnström started his professional career in AIK of the Swedish top-tier league Elitserien (SEL). He was drafted as 272nd overall, in the eleventh round by the New York Islanders in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

During the 2003–04 season, he became the first defenceman in the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins to lead the team in scoring for an entire season, compiling 52 points in 80 games. The Penguins acquired Ric Jackman at the trade deadline, and the two flourished together, combining for the "Ric and Dick show" on the powerplay. Through a 2010 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette series of Penguins "Teams of the Decades" Tärnström was named to the Penguins team of the '00s. He is still the only defenceman ever to lead the Penguins in scoring for a season.

During the lockout-season, 2004–05, Tärnström played in Södertälje SK in Sweden.

Tärnström requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins and on January 26, 2006, he went to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Cory Cross and Jani Rita.

Tärnström was part of the Cinderella Edmonton Oilers team that made a run to the Stanley Cup Finals. However, the Oilers lost in game 7 of the finals to the Carolina Hurricanes. Tärnström had 0 goals and 2 assists in the 2006 Playoffs.

During the 2006–07 season, Tärnström played with HC Lugano of the Nationalliga A.

Tärnström returned to the NHL by signing a contract with the Oilers on July 1, 2007. He was traded on February 1, 2008 to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Curtis Glencross.

In the 2008–09 season, Tärnström returned to play for AIK of the Swedish second-tier league HockeyAllsvenskan (Swe-2). He was appointed the team's captain. The plan was to help AIK promote back to the top-tier league Elitserien (SEL) due to AIK's financial problems at that time. AIK were promoted to the SEL in the 2009–10 season, and Tärnström would remain in the team until he was forced to retire in January 2013 due to a spinal disc herniation injury.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992–93	AIK	SEL		3	0	0	0	0
1994–95	AIK	SEL		37	8	4	12	26
1995–96	AIK	SEL		40	0	5	5	32
1996–97	AIK	SEL		49	5	3	8	38		7	0	1	1	6
1997–98	AIK	SEL		45	2	12	14	30
1998–99	AIK	SEL		47	9	14	23	36
1999–00	AIK	SEL		42	7	15	22	20
2000–01	AIK	SEL		50	10	18	28	28		9	5	0	0	0
2001–02	New York Islanders	NHL		62	3	16	19	38		5	0	0	0	0
2001–02	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		9	0	2	2	2
2002–03	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		61	7	34	41	50
2003–04	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		80	16	36	52	38
2004–05	Södertälje SK	SEL		50	7	18	25	46		9	1	0	1	6
2005–06	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		33	5	5	10	52
2005–06	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		22	1	3	4	24		12	0	2	2	10
2006–07	HC Lugano	NLA		44	3	26	29	90
2007–08	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		29	1	4	5	40
2007–08	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		19	2	7	9	12
2008–09	AIK	SEL-2		38	9	23	32	68
2009–10	AIK	SEL-2		42	9	23	32	74
2010–11	AIK	SEL		50	6	10	16	36		8	0	4	4	0
2011–12	AIK	SEL		46	8	18	26	38
NHL totals				306	35	105	140	254		17	0	2	2	12

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

• Dick Tärnström at nhpla.com