Harry Zolnierczyk

History

2008-09: Harry Zolnierczyk skated in 31 games as a sophomore at Brown, seeing limited ice time due to injury. His first career goal was a game-winner in an ECAC playoff game at Harvard and he finished the season with 1 goal and 2 assists and was -13 with 30 PMs. Brown finished last in ECAC Hockey; winning five games all season.

2009-10: Zolnierczyk was the second leading scorer for Brown as a junior. registering 13 goals and 20 assists in 37 games. He was -8 with 78 PMs as Brown finished 11th in the 12-team ECAC Hockey league. The Bears played their best hockey at the end of the season; knocking off regular season champ Yale in a three-game series and advancing to the league’s third place game.

2010-11: Zolnierczyk signed a free-agent, entry-level contract with the Flyers in March 2011 and made his pro debut with AHL Adirondack after a memorable senior season at Brown. In 16 AHL games he scored 3 goals with 2 assists and 37 PMs and was -4 on a Phantoms team that missed the playoffs. Zolnierczyk led Brown in points and penalty minutes and was named Ivy League Player of the Year despite the Bears’ ninth-place finish in ECAC Hockey. Zolnierczyk scored 16 goals with 15 assists and was +2 with 128 PMs in 30 games. Six of his 16 goals were scored on the power play.

2011-12: Zolnierczyk made the Flyers out of training camp – skating  nine shifts in the Flyers’ October 18th game at Ottawa – and appeared in 37 NHL games after being re-called in November while shuffling between Philadelphia and AHL affiliate Adirondack in his first pro season. He scored 3 goals with 3 assists and was minus-11 with 35 penalty minutes; averaging 7:42 minutes of ice time with the Flyers. Zolnierczyk scored 8 goals with 13 assists and was minus-10 with 37 penalty minutes in 39 AHL games with the Phantoms. He was re-called by the Flyers for the NHL playoffs but did not appear in any games.

2012-13: Zolnierczyk appeared in seven NHL games with the Flyers in his second pro season – receiving a four-game suspension for a hit on Mike Lundin in March – and spent most of the season in the AHL. He had 1 assist and was an even plus/minus with Philadelphia before being acquired by Anaheim in exchange for defenseman Jay Rosehill. Zolnierczyk spent the playoffs with the Ducks but did not play in any games. In 61 AHL games (52 with Flyers’ affiliate Adirondack /nine with Norfolk following the trade) Zolnierczyk scored 11 goals with 8 assists and was -19 with 68 penalty minutes. The Penguins acquired Zolnierczyk from Anaheim in June in exchange for defenseman Alex Grant and he was re-signed to a one-year contract as a restricted free agent in July of 2013.

Talent Analysis

Zolnierczyk is a prototypical fourth line energy player. He is fast, plays very physical, and is not afraid to drop the gloves. He also brings a sandpaper element that, when properly focused, can throw opposing players off their games. He does however often play too recklessly, which has led to countless penalties and even suspensions.

Future

Zolnierczyk will likely spend the bulk of the 2015-16 season in the AHL, though he should see at least several games in the NHL as an injury call-up.