Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tangradi's role with Jets
By Victoria Matiash
If all goes to plan, Eric Tangradi will play a much more prominent role with the Winnipeg Jets than he did with his old squad. Traded from the talent-heavy Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2013 seventh-round draft pick, the 24-year-old power forward should slide right into the Jets' lineup as a top-nine forward -- if not top-six. And the big winger is more than a little excited about that prospect.
"I'm pumped," said Tangradi, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. "I'm just really excited. I don't know what opportunity awaits me and what not, but I think it was time for a change of scenery for me. I do believe I'm an NHL player but wasn't getting that opportunity in Pittsburgh."
A separate deal sending forward Alexei Ponikarovsky (back) to the New Jersey Devils only magnifies the Jets' intentions regarding Tangradi.
The former Anaheim Ducks' draft pick played five games for the Penguins this season, and 24 contests in 2011-12.
