Tony Tanti is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for ten seasons. He was born on September 7, 1963, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tanti started his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals in 1979. He played for the Generals for three seasons and was a prolific scorer, scoring 187 goals and 157 assists in 191 games.
In 1982, Tanti was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round, 26th overall. He made his NHL debut in the 1982-83 season and quickly established himself as a goal scorer. In his rookie season, he scored 31 goals and 25 assists in 80 games. He followed that up with a 45-goal season in 1983-84, which was the second-highest total in the league that year. Tanti was known for his quick release and accurate shot, which made him a dangerous scorer.
Tanti played for the Canucks for seven seasons and was one of the team's top scorers during that time. He scored 40 or more goals in three seasons and had five seasons with 30 or more goals. In total, he scored 287 goals and 267 assists in 679 games for the Canucks. He also played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1984 and 1985.
In 1989, Tanti was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played for one season. He scored 22 goals and 23 assists in 70 games for the Penguins. He then played for the Buffalo Sabres for two seasons, scoring 25 goals and 23 assists in 107 games. Tanti's final NHL season was in 1992-93, when he played for the Atlanta Thrashers in their inaugural season. He scored 10 goals and 12 assists in 41 games for the Thrashers.
After his NHL career, Tanti played in Europe for several seasons. He played in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany before retiring in 1999. In total, Tanti scored 369 goals and 346 assists in 697 professional games.
Tanti was known for his offensive skills and was one of the top goal scorers in the NHL during his career. He was also a fan favorite in Vancouver, where he played the majority of his career. Tanti's number 16 was retired by the Oshawa Generals in 2006, and he was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
In conclusion, Tony Tanti was a prolific goal scorer during his ten-year NHL career. He played for the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and Atlanta Thrashers, scoring 369 goals and 346 assists in 697 professional games. He was known for his quick release and accurate shot, which made him a dangerous scorer. Tanti's number 16 was retired by the Oshawa Generals, and he was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame.
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