Tanner Laczynski, a Buckeye from 2017-20, made his NHL debut Saturday with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The All-American, a Flyers’ draft pick, signed with the team following the 2020 season. He started his professional career with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms earlier this season and had 10 points, with four goals and six assists, through his first 14 games before he was recalled first to the Flyers’ taxi squad and then to the NHL roster.
In his debut against the Islanders, Laczynski recorded one shot, one hit, one blocked shot and went 3-for-3 on faceoffs in 8:17 of ice time, including time on the penalty kill.
In 2019-20 Laczynski was an alternate captain for the Buckeyes, who finished the year ranked 10th in the USCHO poll, were the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament (set to host the tourney semifinals when the season was cancelled) and were poised to make a fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament. Over his four years, Laczynski and his senior classmates were part of 87 wins, four-straight 20 win campaigns, a Big Ten regular season title and a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. They would have been the first class in school history to make four NCAA Tournament appearances had the 2020 tournament not been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Laczynski ended his Buckeye career with 143 points, including 95 assists, while playing in 138 games. He had a team-best 23 assists and 34 points his senior season, ranking second among B1G skaters in assists and tying for third in points in the shortened 2019-20 season. It was his fourth straight year with 10+ goals, 20+ assists and 30+ points.
Laczynski, who was part of the gold medal winning Team USA squad at the 2017 World Junior Championship, earned Second Team All-America and First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2018, was a Second Team All-Big Ten choice in 2020 and was an honorable mention All-B1G selection in 2019. He has also received NCAA Tournament All-Midwest Regional and Big Ten All-Tournament team accolades in 2018.
In the classroom, Laczynski was a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He earned his degree in sport industry in Spring 2020.
