Tim Schaller Explained

Birth Date:16 November 1990
Birth Place:Merrimack, New Hampshire, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:216
Position:Center
Shoots:Left
Team:Free agent
Former Teams:Buffalo Sabres
Boston Bruins
Vancouver Canucks
Los Angeles Kings
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2013
Career End:2023

Timothy Robert Schaller (born November 16, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He most recently played for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). Schaller previously played for the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Growing up, Schaller attended Merrimack High School where he was a three sport athlete. He was named Merrimack High School Rookie of the Year in 2006 before joining the New England Jr. Huskies in the Eastern Junior Hockey League.[1]

Collegiate

Schaller joined Providence College for the 2009–10 season. He scored his first collegiate goal in a 4–1 loss to Northeastern on November 20, 2009[2] and ended the season with five points. At the conclusion of the season, Schaller was the co-recipient of the Rev. Herman Schneider Most Valuable Freshman Award.[1]

In his sophomore year, Schaller played in 34 games for the Friars, earning a new career highs in points with 19. He was then invited to participate at the Chicago Blackhawks NHL Prospect Camp prior to his junior year.[3]

Despite suffering injuries throughout the season, Schaller finished the 2011–12 season with a new career high 14 goals, which also led the team. As a result, Schaller won the team's Rob Gaudreau Award for most goals scored.[4] He was also named a semi-finalist for the Walter Brown Award as the best American-born college hockey player in New England[5] and was invited to the Calgary Flames 2012 Development Camp on an Amateur Try-out agreement.[6]

Schaller was named one of three captains for the Friars prior to his senior year.[7] He then recorded a career high 23 points in 38 games to help the team qualify for the 2013 Hockey East playoffs. Schaller was named Hockey East Defensive Forward of the Year before graduating.[8]

Professional

On April 2, 2013, the Buffalo Sabres signed Schaller to a two-year, entry-level contract.[9]

Schaller spent the entire 2013-14 season with the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In 72 games, he recorded eleven goals and eighteen points.

On November 29, 2014, the Sabres recalled Schaller.[10] He made his NHL debut that night in a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens.[11] On December 21, Schaller scored his first career NHL goal in a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins in Boston.[12] He grew up in nearby Merrimack, New Hampshire.[13]

On July 1, 2016, Schaller signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Bruins.[14] In his first season with the club, he scored fourteen points in 59 games. The Bruins re-signed Schaller to a one-year contract extension on July 5, 2017.[15]

On July 1, 2018, the Vancouver Canucks signed Schaller to a two-year, $3.8 million contract.[16] He played 47 games for the team the subsequent season, scoring ten points.

During the following 2019–20 season, while in his final season under contract, Schaller, prospect Tyler Madden, a 2020 second-round pick and 2022 conditional pick were traded by the Canucks to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Tyler Toffoli on February 17, 2020.[17]

As a free agent entering the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Schaller was signed to an AHL professional tryout contract to attend the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins training camp.[18] After a positive showing, Schaller was signed to a one-year contract with Wilkes-Barre on February 8, 2021.[19]

Leaving the Penguins as a free agent, Schaller extended his career in the AHL in agreeing to a one-year contract with the Bakersfield Condors, affiliate to the Edmonton Oilers, on October 5, 2021.[20]

After a lone season with the Condors, Schaller continued his tenure in the AHL signing to a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Admirals, primary affiliate to the Nashville Predators, on August 1, 2022.[21]

Retirement

On September 11, 2023, Schaller announced his retirement from the National Hockey League.

Personal life

Schaller was born to parents Robert and Susan Schaller alongside his older brother David. In 2006, David was diagnosed with testicular cancer and later aplastic anemia which required a bone marrow transplant. Tim decided to donate his blood marrow to him, taking him off the ice for six weeks.[22] As a result, the Schaller brothers created a fund called "Timmyheads" which raises money for the Jimmy Fund and Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.[23]

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2006–07New England Jr. HuskiesEJHL10000
2007–08New England Jr. HuskiesEJHL448253329
2008–09New England Jr. HuskiesEJHL451623395420110
2009–10Providence CollegeHE3323540
2010–11Providence CollegeHE345141936
2011–12Providence CollegeHE261472124
2012–13Providence CollegeHE388152361
2013–14Rochester AmericansAHL72117183650112
2014–15Rochester AmericansAHL65152843116
2014–15Buffalo SabresNHL181122
2015–16Rochester AmericansAHL3712142648
2015–16Buffalo SabresNHL171232
2016–17Boston BruinsNHL597714236 1 0 1 2
2017–18Boston BruinsNHL821210224211 0 2 2 2
2018–19Vancouver CanucksNHL4737109
2019–20Vancouver CanucksNHL5151614
2019–20Los Angeles KingsNHL20000
2019–20Ontario ReignAHL51016
2020–21Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL321081814
2021–22Bakersfield CondorsAHL67101525255 0 1 1 4
2022–23Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL679122143
NHL totals27629285792171 2 3 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TIM SCHALLER . friars.com . February 9, 2019.
  2. Web site: Men's Hockey Defeated At Northeastern, 4-1 . friars.com . February 9, 2019 . November 20, 2009.
  3. Web site: Five Men's Hockey Players Participate In NHL Prospect Camps . friars.com . February 9, 2019 . July 19, 2011.
  4. Web site: Men's Hockey Announces 2012 Team Awards . friars.com . February 9, 2019 . April 1, 2012.
  5. Web site: Men's Hockey Forward Tim Schaller Named Semifinalist For Walter Brown Award . friars.com . February 9, 2019 . February 14, 2012.
  6. Web site: Flames prospects to attend annual development camp . NHL.com . February 9, 2019 . July 6, 2012.
  7. Web site: Men's Hockey Announces Team Captains . friars.com . February 9, 2019 . June 14, 2012.
  8. Web site: Sabres sign Undrafted FA Schaller . . 2013-04-02 . 2013-04-02.
  9. Web site: SABRES SIGN FORWARD TIM SCHALLER . Buffalo Sabres . April 2, 2013.
  10. Web site: Maloni . J. . Buffalo Sabres recall Tim Schaller from Rochester . Niagara Frontier Publications . November 29, 2014.
  11. Web site: Sabres beat Habs 4-3 in shootout victory . CTV Montreal . February 27, 2014.
  12. Web site: Loui Eriksson scores in overtime as Boston Bruins rally for 4-3 win over Buffalo Sabres . FOX News . December 21, 2014.
  13. Web site: Hall . Alex . Merrimack's Tim Schaller out to prove something next season with Canucks . New Hampshire Union Leader . July 15, 2019 . July 15, 2019.
  14. Web site: Bruins sign six players . . 2016-07-01 . 2016-07-01.
  15. Web site: Bruins Sign Tim Schaller To A One-Year Contract . Boston Bruins . July 5, 2017 . July 5, 2017.
  16. Web site: Canucks sign Tim Schaller . Vancouver Canucks . July 2018 . July 1, 2018.
  17. Web site: Beneteau . Josh . Canucks acquire Tyler Toffoli from Kings for Tim Schaller, pick, prospect . Sportsnet . February 17, 2020.
  18. Web site: Penguins announce training camp roster . . January 22, 2021 . January 22, 2021.
  19. Web site: WBS Penguins sign Schaller to AHL deal . . February 8, 2021 . February 8, 2021.
  20. Web site: Condors ink pair to AHL deals . . . October 5, 2021 . October 5, 2021.
  21. Web site: Ads sign Tim Schaller . . August 1, 2022 . August 1, 2022.
  22. Web site: Mike Scandura . 'Selfless Act' Defines Providence Freshman's Character . uscho.com . February 9, 2019 . October 19, 2009.
  23. Web site: Jory . Derek . Brotherly love . NHL.com . February 9, 2019 . November 19, 2018.