Eric Tangradi is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams. He was born on February 10, 1989, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and began his hockey career playing for the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2005.
Tangradi was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, but he was later traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2010 and played in 15 games that season. He scored his first NHL goal on December 15, 2010, against the Philadelphia Flyers.
After playing for the Penguins for two seasons, Tangradi was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in 2013. He played for the Jets for one season before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2014. He played in only three games for the Canadiens before being sent down to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Tangradi played for several AHL teams throughout his career, including the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the St. John's IceCaps, the Grand Rapids Griffins, and the Rochester Americans. He was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals.
In 2017, Tangradi signed a contract with the KHL team, HC Sochi. He played for the team for two seasons before returning to North America to play for the Detroit Red Wings in 2019. He played in only four games for the Red Wings before being sent down to their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Tangradi announced his retirement from professional hockey in 2020. He played in a total of 143 NHL games, scoring eight goals and 17 assists. He also played in 496 AHL games, scoring 141 goals and 166 assists.
Throughout his career, Tangradi was known for his hard work and dedication to the game. He was a team player who always put the needs of his team before his own. He was respected by his teammates and coaches for his leadership and his willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
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