Anthony Bitetto (born July 15, 1990) is an American former professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

defenseman Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from Goal (ice hockey), scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the l ...

. He most notably played in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL).

Early life

Bitetto grew up on

Long Island, New York Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...

and was a

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

fan throughout childhood.

Playing career

He was selected 168th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Predators before committing to a collegiate career with

Northeastern University Northeastern University (NU or NEU) is a private university, private research university with its main campus in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded by the Boston Young Men's Christian Association in 1898 as an all-male instit ...

in the

Hockey East The Hockey East Association, also known as Hockey East, is a college ice hockey conference which operates entirely in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. Hockey East came into existence in 1984 for ...

conference. On March 29, 2012, Bitetto was signed to a two-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators. He then began his professional career in the

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

playoffs with the Predators

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...

affiliate, the

Milwaukee Admirals The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team based in Milwaukee. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Nashville Predators. They play their homes games at the UW–Milwaukee Panther ...

. In the 2014–15 season, his third full professional season and leading the Admirals in scoring by a defenseman, Bitetto was recalled by the Predators and made his NHL debut against the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

in a 5–2 defeat on January 17, 2015. Bitetto signed a two-year contract to stay with the Predators on February 26, 2016, and he scored his first career NHL goal on March 9, 2016, in a game against the

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

. On January 9, 2018, Bitetto re-signed with the Predators. During the 2018–19 season, Bitetto appeared in 18 games before he was placed on waivers by the Predators and claimed by division rival

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...

the following day, on January 25, 2019. As a free agent from the Wild, Bitetto agreed to a one-year, two-way contract in joining his third central division club, the

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

, on July 2, 2019. Through 51 games with the Jets in the 2019–20 season, Bitetto registered career highs with 8 assists for 8 points, plus/minus rating, and average ice time (15:10). Bitetto led the Jets in hits per game (2.84) and ranked 23rd in the NHL, as well as fifth among NHL defensemen. On October 9, 2020, Bitetto left the Jets as a free agent, and signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the

. Growing up a Rangers fan, he said he was "speechless" playing in his first game as a Ranger at

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

. During a game against the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

on February 4, 2021, Bitetto scored his first goal as a Ranger in a 4–2 win. He had gone 112 games without a goal; his last goal was on November 18, 2017. During the 2021–22 season, the Rangers traded Bitetto to the

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

in exchange for Nick Merkley at the NHL trade deadline on March 21, 2022. As a free agent in the off-season, Bitetto was signed to a one-year, two-way contract, with the Florida Panthers on July 13, 2022. His signing marked a reunion with former coach Paul Maurice during his tenure with the Winnipeg Jets. After going unsigned throughout free agency, Bitetto announced his retirement on October 4, 2023.

Career statistics

Awards and honors

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bitetto, Anthony 1990 births Living people American expatriate ice hockey players in Canada American men's ice hockey defensemen Charlotte Checkers (2010–) players Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) players Hartford Wolf Pack players Ice hockey players from New York (state) Indiana Ice players Milwaukee Admirals players Minnesota Wild players Nashville Predators draft picks Nashville Predators players New York Rangers players Northeastern Huskies men's ice hockey players People from Island Park, New York San Jose Barracuda players Winnipeg Jets players 21st-century American sportsmen