Amerks land free-agent center Taffe
Center Jeff Taffe, a point-a-game player in the American Hockey League, has signed a two-year contract with the Rochester Americans and their NHL parent team, the Florida Panthers.
Taffe was No. 1 on the list of forwards to pursue when free agency opened on Wednesday, and his contract signature will be arriving today. The Amerks are expected to make the official announcement on Monday.
“He has proven to be one of the best players in the American Hockey League, and we have a suspicion he will be able to help the big club not too far down the road,” said Jack Birch, director of player personnel for the Panthers.
Taffe, 28, scored 25 goals, 50 assists and 75 points in 74 AHL games last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He had two assists in eight games with the NHL’s Pittburgh Penguins. The year before, he scored 5-7-12 in 45 games with Pittsburgh.
For his career, the Hastings, Minn., native has scored 20-22-42 in 153 NHL games with Phoenix, the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh.
