Tyler Ennis, a Canadian professional ice hockey player, embarked on his NHL journey after being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, 26th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Known for his agility and offensive skills, Ennis began his NHL career with the Sabres during the 2009-2010 season. He quickly demonstrated his potential by scoring his first NHL goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 27, 2010.
Ennis spent several seasons with the Sabres, where he became a regular contributor to the team's offense. During the 2010-2011 season, he played in all 82 games, recording 20 goals and 29 assists. His performance earned him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. Over the next few years, Ennis continued to be a reliable forward for Buffalo, consistently putting up points despite the team's struggles in the standings.
In 2014, Ennis signed a five-year contract extension with the Sabres, solidifying his role as a core player. However, injuries began to take a toll on his performance. During the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons, he was limited to just 23 and 51 games, respectively, due to various injuries. Despite these setbacks, Ennis remained a skilled playmaker when healthy.
In June 2017, Ennis was traded to the Minnesota Wild along with Marcus Foligno in exchange for Marco Scandella, Jason Pominville, and a draft pick. His tenure with the Wild was short-lived, as he played just one season with the team, tallying 8 goals and 14 assists in 73 games. Following the 2017-2018 season, the Wild bought out the remaining year of his contract, making him a free agent.
Ennis then signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2018-2019 season. In Toronto, he found a role as a depth forward, contributing 12 goals and 6 assists in 51 games. His time with the Maple Leafs was marked by a memorable hat trick against the Calgary Flames on March 4, 2019.
The following season, Ennis joined the Ottawa Senators on a one-year deal. He played 61 games for the Senators, recording 14 goals and 19 assists, before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline in February 2020. Ennis finished the 2019-2020 season with the Oilers, adding 2 goals and 2 assists in 9 games.
Ennis re-signed with the Oilers for the 2020-2021 season, but his role was limited, and he appeared in only 30 games, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists. In October 2021, he returned to the Ottawa Senators on a professional tryout contract and eventually secured a one-year deal. During the 2021-2022 season, Ennis played 57 games for the Senators, contributing 8 goals and 16 assists.
Throughout his career, Tyler Ennis was known for his speed, creativity, and ability to navigate through tight spaces on the ice.
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