As thought, Nathan Oystrick(74) may decide to hang up the skates after a solid final season as team captain/assistant coach for Elmira Jackals and he did.
With 65 NHL games on three different teams including one full year (2008/2009) for Atlanta Thrashers scoring 5 goals and 10 assists, he brings in some solid footing.
Not to mention the 338 AHL games he’s skated.
On four occasions he was a 10+ goal scorer and 3-times hit the 30+ assists total, missing that mark by only two helpers in his sophomore campaign.
The 33-year old former blue liner has recently accepted a job as full-time assistant coach for Atlanta Gladiators.
With all his experience he’ll easily be a valuable asset on the bench and in the locker room.
Nathan Oystrick (74)
10th year, veteran defenseman Nathan Oystrick(74) returned last season from a pair of years playing for HC Lev Praha putting up some decent numbers and was even an assistant captain in 2013/2014 with a deep playoff run that had him score 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points in 22 KHL games.
Signing a month into the 2014/2015 campaign on a pto with Springfield Falcons, he only appeared in 12 AHL games before being released a few months later.
The 6′ 205 lbs. blue liner had some time to think about his next pro hockey pursuit and agreed quickly in the off-season to a one-year deal with Elmira Jackals and become the team captain/assistant coach.
He made a good decision and looks to be fitting in nicely with his new role.
It’s his first time in the ECHL and he already has a goal and 8 assists in 13 games.
At 32-years old he may decide to hang up the skates next season (after playing his 500th pro game) but our bet is he’s doing so well and likes it where he is, so he may stay and play at least one more year before heading behind the bench.