Jeff Tambellini Jeff Tambellini ( born April 13 , 1984 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger playing for the ZSC Lions of the National League A ( NLA ) . Originally selected 27th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft , he joined the NHL in 2005 . During his rookie season , he was traded to the New York Islanders . He split his first three professional seasons between the NHL and his clubs ' American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliates , the Manchester Monarchs ( Los Angeles ) and Bridgeport Sound Tigers ( New York ) . In July 2010 , Tambellini signed with the Vancouver Canucks and spent a season with the organization . During his junior career , Tambellini earned MVP honours in the British Columbia Hockey League ( BCHL ) , while also leading the Chilliwack Chiefs to a Fred Page Cup as league champions and a Doyle Cup as Pacific regional champions . In 2002 , he joined the college ranks with the Michigan Wolverines of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) . Over three seasons , he won two Mason Cup s with Michigan as CCHA champions , while earning several individual honours , including league rookie of the year in 2003 and playoff MVP in 2005 . Internationally , he competed for Canada ' s under - 20 team at the 2004 World Junior Championships , earning a silver medal . Playing career . Junior and college . Tambellini played one season in the third - tier Pacific International Junior Hockey League ( PIJHL ) with the Port Coquitlam Buckaroos in 1999 – 2000 . He scored 31 goals and 64 points over 41 games , earning PIJHL First Team All - Star and Rookie of the Year honours . The following season , he joined the Junior A ranks with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League ( BCHL ) , recording 51 points over 54 games in his rookie season . In 2001 – 02 , he improved to 117 points ( 46 goals and 71 points ) , receiving the Brett Hull Trophy as the league ' s leading scorer along with Matt Ellison of the Cowichan Valley Capitals , who also scored 117 points . He was further distinguished with the Verne Dye Memorial Trophy as the Coastal Conference ' s most valuable player . Tambellini went on to help the Chiefs to a Fred Page Cup as league champions , defeating the Vernon Vipers four games to two in the finals . Advancing to the Doyle Cup , the Chiefs beat the Alberta Junior Hockey League ( AJHL ) champion Drayton Valley Thunder by the same series score to capture the regional title . Competing for the Canadian Junior Hockey League ( CJHL ) title , Chilliwack lost in the Royal Bank Cup semifinals . During the tournament , Tambellini was chosen as the CJHL player of the year , beating out Jade Galbraith of the Drayton Valley Thunder and Tim Vokey of the Cornwall Colts . Tambellini left the Chiefs after two seasons to play college hockey with the Michigan Wolverines of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) , where he served as an alternate captain . After scoring 45 points over 43 games in his freshman year , he received All - Rookie Team , Second All - Star Team and Rookie of the Year honours in the CCHA . In the playoffs , Tambellini helped the Wolverines to his first of two Mason Cup s in his college career as CCHA champions . Going into the 2003 NHL Entry Draft , he was ranked 21st among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau . Scouts listed him as a superior skater and defensively responsible with leadership qualities . He went on to be selected in the first round , 27th overall , by the Los Angeles Kings . Returning to Michigan following his draft , his offensive production declined to 27 points over 39 games . The Wolverines returned to the CCHA finals , but were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes . Returning to form in 2004 – 05 , Tambellini notched 24 goals and 57 points over 42 games , earning CCHA First All - Star Team honours . He led the Wolverines to a second Mason Cup championship in three years and was chosen as the CCHA Tournament MVP . Competing in the NCAA tournament , Tambellini was named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All - Tournament and NCAA West Second All - Star Teams . Professional . On August 15 , 2005 , Tambellini signed an entry - level contract with the Kings , foregoing his senior year with Michigan . In late - September , he was assigned to their American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliate , the Manchester Monarchs , following his training camp with Los Angeles . Two months into the season , Tambellini was called up to the Kings , making his NHL debut on November 30 , 2005 , against the Chicago Blackhawks . The Kings lost the game 3 – 2 , while Tambellini earned nine minutes of ice time . After four pointless NHL games , he was sent back down to Manchester . On March 8 , 2006 , Tambellini was traded by the Kings , along with defenceman Denis Grebeshkov , to the New York Islanders , in exchange for forward Mark Parrish and defenceman Brent Sopel . Upon being dealt , he was called up from the AHL and played the remainder of the season with New York . He left Manchester with 25 goals and 56 points in 56 games , which finished the 2005 – 06 AHL season ranked as the third - best points - per - game rate among league rookies . Playing in his third game with the Islanders , he scored his first NHL goal against Martin Brodeur in a 6 – 1 win against the New Jersey Devils on March 14 , 2006 . He finished the campaign with a goal and four points in 21 games with New York . As the Islanders failed to qualify for the playoffs , they assigned Tambellini to their AHL affiliate , the Bridgeport Sound Tigers , for their Calder Cup playoffs . Over seven post - season games , he recorded three points as Bridgeport was eliminated by the Wilkes - Barre / Scranton Penguins in the first round . Tambellini split the 2006 – 07 season between the Islanders and Sound Tigers . Called up from the AHL on three separate occasions , he recorded two goals and nine points over 23 games with New York . Over 50 AHL games , he led the Sound Tigers with 30 goals and 59 points . The following season , Tambellini set the Sound Tigers single - season scoring record with 76 points in 57 games . His 38 goals ranked second in the league , while his points total was seventh . He was called up to the NHL five times , scoring a goal and four points over 31 games . In the off - season , he was re - signed to a two - year , US $ 1 . 175 million contract on July 16 , 2008 . In 2008 – 09 , he began the campaign in the NHL . With the exception of a two - week assignment with Bridgeport in December 2008 , he spent the entire season with the Islanders . Over 65 NHL games , he scored seven goals and 15 points , while recording three goals in six games with the Sound Tigers . The following season , Tambellini recorded his first NHL hat trick with his father in attendance on October 31 , 2009 , against the Buffalo Sabres . Often made a healthy scratch , he completed the season with 14 points over 36 games , while leading the Islanders in shootout percentage with three goals in five attempts . Becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off - season , Tambellini joined the Vancouver Canucks on July 1 , 2010 . His signed a one - year , two - way deal paying the league - minimum $ 500 , 000 at the NHL - level and $ 105 , 000 at the minor - league level . He had received interest from other teams , but was quick to accept an offer from his hometown NHL team , commenting that he " grew up want [ ing ] to be part of the Vancouver Canucks from age six . " Tambellini scored his first goal as a Canuck on October 22 , 2010 , in a 5 – 1 win against the Minnesota Wild . While earning some time on the team ' s second line , he played the majority of the season on the fourth unit , finishing with 9 goals and 17 points over 62 games . Assigned to the team ' s AHL affiliate for brief periods in October and November 2010 , he recorded 7 points over 7 games with the Manitoba Moose . A healthy scratch for the majority of the 2011 playoffs , he made his NHL post - season debut in Game 6 of the second round against the Nashville Predators . In total , he dressed in six games with no points during the playoffs as the Canucks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time in team history , losing in Game 7 to the Boston Bruins . On July 6 , 2011 , Tambellini left Vancouver to sign for the ZSC Lions of the National League A in Switzerland . International play . Tambellini competed for the Canadian national junior team at the 2004 World Junior Championships , held in Finland . He was the lone NCAA player on Canada ' s roster . Playing against Ukraine in the round - robin , he scored his first international goal against goaltender Yevgeniy Galyuk in a 10 – 0 win . Helping Canada reach the gold medal game , they lost to the United States by a 4 – 3 score , earning silver . In six games , Tambellini recorded two goals and five points , ranking sixth in team scoring . Personal life . Tambellini was born in Calgary , Alberta . His father Steve Tambellini , a retired ice hockey player and current general manager of the Edmonton Oilers , was playing for the Calgary Flames at the time . Steve also played in the NHL with the New York Islanders , Colorado Rockies , New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks . Tambellini ' s grandfather , Addie Tambellini , was a member of the Trail Smoke Eaters who were the last Canadian amateur team to win the World Championships in 1961 . As Steve became involved with the Canucks first as a player , then as an executive later in his career , Tambellini grew up in Vancouver , British Columbia , while gaining exposure to the NHL environment . After leaving home to begin his own hockey career , Tambellini returned to Vancouver in the off - seasons , residing in the Coal Harbour neighbourhood . External links . [ [ Category : Canadian ice hockey play ] [ [ Category : Born in 1984 ] ] [ [ Category : Bridgeport Sound Tigers players ] ] [ [ Category : Los Angeles Kings draft picks ] ] [ [ Category : Los Angeles Kings players ] ] [ [ Category : Manitoba Moose players ] ] [ [ Category : Manchester Monarchs players ] ] [ [ Category : Michigan Wolverines players ] ] [ [ Category : National Hockey League first round draft picks ] ] [ [ Category : New York Islanders players ] ] [ [ Category : Vancouver Canucks players ] ]