Tomáš Tatar
Tomáš Tatar | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1, 1990 Slovakia |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey forward |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known for | Playing for EV Zug in Switzerland's National League; NHL career with Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Seattle Kraken |
Tomáš Tatar (; born 1 December 1990) is a Slovak professional ice hockey forward currently playing for EV Zug in Switzerland's National League. He was selected 60th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 NHL entry draft.
Slovak Extraliga
During the 2007–08 season, Tatar competed with HK Dukla Trenčín's U18 and U20 squads, amassing a combined total of 50 goals and 39 assists across 46 games. His debut senior season came in 2008–09 with HKM Zvolen in the Slovak Extraliga, where he contributed seven goals and eight assists over 48 contests.
Detroit Red Wings
Selected 60th overall by Detroit in the 2009 NHL Draft, Tatar was also picked 15th overall by SKA Saint Petersburg during the KHL draft. On 25 September 2009, he inked a three-year entry-level deal with the Red Wings and was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
In his initial AHL season (2009–10), Tatar registered 16 goals and 16 assists in 58 appearances. He elevated his performance in the following campaign, tallying 24 goals alongside 33 assists through 70 games. Tatar made his NHL debut on 31 December 2010, marking the occasion by netting his first goal against the New York Islanders.
Throughout the 2011–12 AHL season, he led Grand Rapids with 24 goals and added 34 assists over a full slate of 76 games, although the team did not qualify for postseason play. The lockout-affected 2012–13 season saw him begin with ŠHK 37 Piešťany in Slovakia, where he scored five goals and provided five assists in eight matches before joining Detroit for an 18-game NHL stint, contributing four goals and three assists. Returning to Grand Rapids, Tatar played a pivotal role in securing the Calder Cup championship and earned playoff MVP honors by scoring 16 goals and adding five assists in 24 playoff games.
In his first complete NHL season (2013–14), Tatar posted 19 goals and totaled 39 points, finishing second in team scoring for Detroit. On 28 July 2014, he secured a three-year contract extension valued at $8.25 million with the Red Wings.
During the 2014–15 season, Tatar was recognized twice as the NHL Second Star of the Week, leading Detroit with multiple game-winning goals and contributing significantly to winning streaks. On 21 July 2017, he agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $21.2 million with Detroit.
Vegas Golden Knights
Tatar was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on 26 February 2018 in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2018, a second-round pick in 2019, and a third-round pick in 2021. In the course of the 2018 playoffs, he took part in eight games, registering one goal and one assist.
Montreal Canadiens
Prior to the start of the 2018–19 season, Tatar was traded to the Montreal Canadiens along with prospect Nick Suzuki and a second-round pick in the 2019 draft, in exchange for team captain Max Pacioretty. He concluded that season with a total of 58 points—25 goals and 33 assists—over 80 games, predominantly playing on Montreal’s second line alongside Andrew Shaw and Max Domi.
In the 2019–20 season, Tatar achieved a personal best of 61 points across 68 games, frequently featuring on Montreal’s top line with Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault. During Montreal’s unexpected journey to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, Tatar was often a healthy scratch, appearing in just five games.
New Jersey Devils
On August 5, 2021, Tatar joined the New Jersey Devils as a free agent from Montreal, agreeing to a two-year contract worth $9 million. During his tenure with the Devils, he amassed 78 points across 158 regular-season games. Notably, he scored a goal in the critical game 7 triumph against the New York Rangers in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, playing a key role in New Jersey’s first playoff series victory since 2012.
Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken
Tatar inked a one-year deal valued at $1.5 million with the Colorado Avalanche on September 12, 2023. He disclosed that he had turned down a one-year contract extension from New Jersey because he was pursuing a multi-year agreement; however, after the Devils acquired Tyler Toffoli, no additional offer was extended. He made his Avalanche debut on the opening night of the 2023–24 NHL season, contributing an assist during a 5–2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on October 11. Despite being placed in a top-six forward position, Tatar faced offensive challenges, netting his sole goal for Colorado in his 26th appearance in a 6–5 win against the Calgary Flames on December 11.
After tallying nine points in 27 games, Tatar was traded to the Seattle Kraken on December 15 in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He debuted for Seattle in an enhanced top-line role alongside Matty Beniers and Jared McCann, narrowly missing a shootout goal during a 3–2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on December 16.
Return to New Jersey
As a free agent for the second consecutive off-season, Tatar returned to the Devils by signing a one-year contract worth $1.8 million on July 2, 2024.
Switzerland
Following 14 seasons in the NHL, Tatar signed a two-year contract with EV Zug of the Swiss National League in 2025. Although predominantly known as a left winger throughout his career, EV Zug announced plans to deploy him as a centre.
International play
Tatar represented Slovakia at both the 2009 and 2010 World Junior Championships, leading his team’s scoring effort in 2009 by recording seven goals and four assists over seven games. He made his senior international debut at the 2010 IIHF World Championship, contributing two goals in six contests.
At the 2012 IIHF World Championship, Tatar was the youngest member of Slovakia’s silver medal-winning squad, adding two goals and three assists across ten games. He competed for Slovakia at the 2014 Winter Olympics, finishing as the team’s second-highest scorer with one goal and one assist. Later that year at the IIHF World Championship, he registered four goals and four assists over seven games.
Tatar also participated in the 2015 IIHF World Championship, providing two assists in six games. Representing Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, he led his squad with three goals in six matches—including an overtime winner in the semifinal—and earned a silver medal.
Personal life
Tatar is an avid fan of FC Bayern Munich.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005–06 | Spartak Dubnica nad Váhom | SVK U18 | 35 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Spartak Dubnica nad Váhom | SVK.2 U18 | 48 | 33 | 44 | 77 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Spartak Dubnica nad Váhom | SVK U20 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Dukla Trenčín | SVK U18 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Dukla Trenčín | SVK U20 | 42 | 31 | 45 | 76 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | HKM Zvolen | SVK | 48 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 | HC 07 Detva | SVK.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 58 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 70 | 24 | 33 | 57 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 76 | 24 | 34 | 58 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | ŠHK 37 Piešťany | SVK | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 AHL season | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 61 | 23 | 26 | 49 | 50 | 24 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 23 | ||
| 2012–13 NHL season | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 18 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 NHL season | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 73 | 19 | 20 | 39 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| 2014–15 NHL season | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 82 | 29 | 27 | 56 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 NHL season | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 81 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17 NHL season | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 82 | 25 | 21 | 46 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 NHL season | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 62 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 20 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 NHL season | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 25 | 33 | 58 | 34 | |||||||
| 2019–20 NHL season | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 68 | 22 | 39 | 61 | 36 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21 NHL season | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 50 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 NHL season | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 76 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 22 | |||||||
| 2022–23 NHL season | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 30 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2023–24 NHL season | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 27 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |||||||
| 2023–24 | Seattle Kraken | NHL | 43 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 10 | |||||||
| 2024–25 NHL season | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 74 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 927 | 227 | 269 | 496 | 316 | 56 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 26 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Outcome | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Slovakia | WJC | 4th place | 7 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2010 | Slovakia | WJC | Finished 8th | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |
| 2010 | Slovakia | WC | Ranked 12th | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2012 | Slovakia | WC | Template:Silver2 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2014 | Slovakia | OG | Placed 11th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Slovakia | WC | Finished 9th | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | |
| 2015 | Slovakia | WC | Ranked 9th | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2016 | Team Europe | WCH | Template:Silver2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2019 | Slovakia | WC | Finished in ninth place | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2022 | Slovakia | WC | Placed eighth | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2024 | Slovakia | WC | Seventh place finish | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | |
| 2024 | Slovakia | OGQ | Qualified (Q) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Junior career totals | 13 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 10 | ||||
| Senior career totals | 65 | 19 | 22 | 41 | 34 | ||||