Tanner Pearson Bio
Tanner Pearson is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who has played in the National Hockey League since the 2014-15 season. Selected in the first round, 30th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2012 NHL entry draft, Pearson won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014. Over more than a decade in the league, he has played for the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, and Winnipeg Jets. Known for his power and skill on the ice, he has established himself as a reliable two-way forward capable of contributing on all four lines and both special teams.
Pearson earned a bronze medal with Canada at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and made history as the first member of Team Canada since 2005 to be selected after being passed over in the NHL draft. His versatility, work ethic, and postseason experience have made him a valued depth option for every team he has played for. His career-best 45-point season with the Vancouver Canucks in 2019-20 demonstrated his ability to produce consistently at the highest level of professional hockey.
Early Life and Background
Tanner Pearson was born on August 10, 1992, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and grew up there with his sister Ali and his parents Kim and Tim Pearson. His father worked for Bauer Hockey, and his sister was employed by the Kitchener Rangers, which immersed the family in the hockey community from an early age. Pearson played most of his junior career with the Waterloo Siskins in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League when he was 16 and 17 years of age. The Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League selected him in the 14th round of the OHL Priority Draft, 237th overall.
Pearson developed into a physical and skilled winger during his time with the Colts, establishing the two-way game that would define his NHL career. His growth in Kitchener, surrounded by hockey at every level, gave him a strong foundation and a competitive edge that carried him through the draft process and into professional hockey.
Path to Ice Hockey
Pearson began his junior career with the Waterloo Siskins in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he developed his physical style of play. The Barrie Colts selected him 237th overall in the OHL Priority Draft, and he quickly established himself as a scoring forward. His rookie season with the Colts included 15 goals and 42 points in 66 games as he played on both the second and third lines.
On November 19, 2011, Pearson scored a hat trick, including the game-winning goal in overtime, in a 6-5 win over the Ottawa 67s. His 2011-12 season was cut short by a broken fibula on March 18, 2012, but in 60 games he recorded 37 goals and 91 points to finish third in OHL scoring. He was named to the OHL second All-Star Team and represented Canada at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he won a bronze medal.
Tanner Pearson Career
Early Career (2012-2014)
The Los Angeles Kings selected Pearson with the last pick of the first round, 30th overall, in the 2012 NHL entry draft, marking the third time he had been eligible after going undrafted the previous two years. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings on August 3, 2012, and began his professional career with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. Pearson earned his first NHL call-up during the 2013 playoffs when the Kings added him as a black ace for their Stanley Cup playoff run.
Pearson made his NHL debut on May 18, 2013, skating on the Kings fourth line in a playoff game against the San Jose Sharks. He scored his first NHL goal on November 14 against Kevin Poulin in a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders. On June 13, 2014, Pearson helped lead the Los Angeles Kings to a Stanley Cup championship over the New York Rangers, scoring 12 points in the 24 playoff games it took the Kings to claim the title. He was passed over in the draft twice before his selection by the Kings added extra motivation to his early professional years.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2014-2018)
Pearson broke into a full-time NHL role with the Kings during the 2014-15 season, playing a majority of the season on a line with Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli. The trio became known as That 70s Line because all three wore numbers in the 70s, and Pearson was named the NHL Rookie of the Month in October 2014. He missed the remainder of the 2014-15 season after suffering a broken left fibula during a game against the Winnipeg Jets on January 10, 2015. Despite the injury, he signed a two-year contract extension worth $2.8 million on April 2, 2015.
Pearson established career bests with 24 goals and 44 points during the 2016-17 season, and the Kings rewarded him with a four-year contract extension worth $15 million on May 8, 2017. He appeared in all 82 games during the 2017-18 season, scoring 15 goals and 40 points. Pearson was suspended for four games during Kings training camp in October 2016 for an illegal hit to the head of Brandon Davidson of the Edmonton Oilers, but he returned to score four goals and six points in his first four games back from suspension.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2018-2019)
The Los Angeles Kings traded Pearson to the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 14, 2018, ending his seven-year tenure with the organization. He made his Penguins debut the following day in a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, skating on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist. Pearson scored his first goal and first assist as a Penguin against Carter Hutton in a 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, recording three goals in his first six games with the team.
Pearson played 44 games for the Penguins, scoring nine goals and five assists before being traded again in February 2019. His brief but productive stint in Pittsburgh demonstrated his ability to adapt quickly to new systems and teammates at the NHL level.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2019-2023)
The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Pearson to the Vancouver Canucks on February 25, 2019, in exchange for defenceman Erik Gudbranson. He made his Canucks debut two days later in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche and scored his first goal for Vancouver against Darcy Kuemper in a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Pearson established himself as a core piece of the Canucks lineup during the 2019-20 season, registering a career-best 45 points in 69 games, including a four-point night with two goals and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on December 1.
He signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract extension with the Canucks on April 8, 2021. Pearson finished the 2021-22 season with 14 goals and 38 points in 68 games. On November 9, 2022, he suffered a hand injury that required surgery, and on January 12, 2023, the Canucks announced he had undergone his third hand surgery since November and would miss the remainder of the season after playing just 14 games with one goal and five points.
Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights Era (2023-2025)
The Vancouver Canucks traded Pearson to the Montreal Canadiens on September 19, 2023, along with a 2025 third-round pick, in exchange for goaltender Casey DeSmith. He spent the 2023-24 season with the Canadiens before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2024. As a free agent, Pearson signed a professional tryout agreement with the Vegas Golden Knights on August 20, 2024, and scored three points in four preseason games before being signed to a one-year contract on October 4, 2024.
Following his lone season with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024-25, Pearson signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1, 2025. The Jets, a perennial contender in the Central Division, added Pearson for his playoff experience and ability to contribute on multiple forward lines.
Playing Style and Strengths
Pearson is a left-shooting winger who reads the game well and plays with consistent intensity, making him a coachable player who can be deployed in multiple situations. He contributed offensively during his peak years, setting a career-high 45 points in the 2019-20 season with the Canucks, and he remains effective in both even-strength and special-teams roles. His durability is one of his defining attributes, having appeared in all 82 regular-season games with the Kings in 2017-18.
Notable Events and Milestones
The Stanley Cup championship with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014 stands as the defining achievement of Pearson career, where he scored 12 points across 24 playoff games. His four-point night against the Edmonton Oilers on December 1, 2019, with the Canucks was one of the most productive individual performances of his career, and his 2012 World Junior bronze medal with Canada demonstrated his ability to excel on the international stage early in his career.
Tanner Pearson Career Wins
Tanner Pearson has built a consistent NHL career spanning more than a decade, with his most productive seasons coming during his five-year stint with the Vancouver Canucks. His peak offensive production came in the 2019-20 season, and his Stanley Cup championship in 2014 represents the most significant team accomplishment of his playing career. His ability to contribute across multiple teams and systems has made him a reliable presence throughout the league.
National Hockey League Highlights
Pearson career-high 45 points came during the 2019-20 season with the Vancouver Canucks, when he scored in 69 games. His first NHL goal came on November 14, 2013, against the New York Islanders, and he played in all 24 playoff games during the Kings Stanley Cup championship run in 2014, scoring 12 points. Pearson has appeared in over 800 regular-season NHL games across his career and remains an effective depth forward capable of contributing on any line.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior level, Pearson finished third in OHL scoring in 2011-12 with 37 goals and 91 points in 60 games and was named to the OHL second All-Star Team. He represented Canada at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, winning a bronze medal as the first player since 2005 to make the roster after going undrafted in the NHL draft.
Tanner Pearson Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Tanner Pearson grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, with his sister Ali and his parents Kim and Tim Pearson. His father worked for Bauer Hockey, a leading hockey equipment manufacturer, which gave Pearson direct exposure to the business and culture of the sport from a young age. His sister Ali worked for the Kitchener Rangers, one of the prominent major junior teams in the Ontario Hockey League, further embedding the Pearson family in the hockey community.
Personal Life
Pearson married his longtime girlfriend Meaghan Loveday in mid-2018. The wedding came during his established tenure with the Los Angeles Kings, and the couple has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his NHL career. Pearson stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 207 pounds, and he shoots left as a winger.
2025 Season Performance
Tanner Pearson entered the 2025-26 season with the Winnipeg Jets after spending the 2024-25 campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights. He signed a one-year contract with the Jets on July 1, 2025, bringing depth scoring and playoff experience to a team that has consistently competed in the Central Division. The Jets have been among the more competitive teams in the Western Conference in recent seasons, and Pearson experience in deep playoff runs, including the 2014 Stanley Cup championship, makes him a valuable addition to a roster chasing a title.
Pearson ability to contribute on multiple forward lines and both special teams gives the Jets flexibility as they navigate the regular season and potential playoff series. At 33 years old, he continues to demonstrate the work ethic and two-way awareness that have characterized his career, and his Stanley Cup experience provides a steadying influence in the dressing room. His transition to Winnipeg after a strong preseason with Vegas shows he remains in demand as a veteran depth forward who can be trusted in important moments.