In the 2017-18 season, Chris Tierney showed potential when he was a member of the San Jose Sharks by recording a 40-point season. One month before the 2018-19 season, Tierney was traded by the Sharks to the Ottawa Senators.
Tierney was one of the pieces the Senators received in the Erik Karlsson trade. In Tierney's first season in Ottawa, he appeared to be on the right track as a piece of the future by recording 48 points.
In the following 2019-20 season, Tierney continued to make big strides by recording 37 points in 71 games played before the NHL suspended the season. However, the next two seasons were struggling ones for Tierney in Ottawa. After playing for three teams from 2022-2024 after leaving Ottawa, Tierney is now playing in the KHL in Russia, but has continued his struggles again.
Tierney is struggling in KHL
Tierney played for the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens where he recorded a combined 10 points in 36 games played in the 2022-23 season. Last season, Tierney recorded 12 points in 54 games with the New Jersey Devils.
Today, Tierney plays for the HC Dinamo Minsk in the KHL in Russia where his play continues to struggle. In 35 games played this season, Tierney has recorded just nine points with the Minsk.
After the suspension of the 2019-20 season, Tierney's game has struggled ever since. Tierney's final two seasons in Ottawa were rough ones. Tierney recorded 18 points in the 2020-21 season and 18 points in the 2021-22 season.
Some might wonder if the suspension of the 2019-20 season may have impacted Tierney's play, particularly in Ottawa. Tierney's 48 points were the fourth most on a bad Senators team in the 2018-19 season; Tierney's 37 points were the sixth most on another bad Senators team in the 2019-20 season.
After the 2021-22 season, Tierney left the Senators and signed a one-year contract with the Panthers, but then was placed on waivers before being claimed off waivers by the Canadiens.
Tierney last played an NHL game on April 15, 2024, as a Devil. Tierney went unsigned in the NHL this past Summer and went to join the KHL this past September. Tierney recorded the most points of his career as a Senator. In 277 games as a Senator, Tierney recorded 122 points.