Colorado Eagles add depth in forward Tanner Kero

The Colorado Eagles have added journeyman forward Tanner Kero on an AHL contract for the 2023–24 season.

Kero, 30, spent the last four seasons in the Dallas Stars’ organization, seeing time at both the NHL and AHL levels. In 2022–23, the Michigan Tech alum spent the year with the Texas Stars, scoring 17 goals with 33 assists in 69 games. His 50 points were the third-most on the AHL roster.

Undrafted out of the USHL’s Fargo Force, Kero pieced together an NHL resume at Michigan Tech. In his fourth year on campus, the Hancock, Michigan, native captained the Huskies scoring 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) in 41 games, and was named a Hobey Baker finalist.

He signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent and scored five goals in six games with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs to close out the 2014–15 seasons. After part of four seasons in Chicago’s organization, Kero was acquired by the Vancouver Canucks and spent his only season with the club at the AHL level, where he had 57 points in 67 games.

The 30-year-old brings a wealth of experience to the Eagles’ organization and scored at least 17 goals at the AHL level three times in his career, with a career-high 24 goals coming back in 2018–19. Between Chicago and Dallas, Kero was recalled to the NHL roster a number of times, recording 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 134 career games and played in a career-high 47 NHL games in 2016–17.

If his name does not sound familiar by now, he was infamously hit hard by the Blackhawks’ Brett Connolly and had to be stretchered off the ice in December 2021.

Really sucks seeing so many players stretchered off the ice lately. Tanner Kero taken to hospital after a hit by Brett Connolly. pic.twitter.com/CYeMRhrWZA

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 19, 2021

An emotional Joe Pavelski speaking on the Tanner Kero incident. Gave him flashbacks of his scary injury in the 2019 Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/Fr64IPUSaK

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 19, 2021

Despite being a left-shot forward, Kero offers tremendous flexibility for Colorado with the ability to play at center or right wing.

At 6-foot, 185 pounds, Kero has done most of his damage below the dots, cleaning up second-chance opportunities. Kero can also lead the rush into the attacking zone and create 5-on-5 opportunities on his own. Kero stands out as a puck facilitator on the power play, highlighted by his 15 power-play assists in 2022–23.

Not only does Kero’s addition give the Eagles a solid depth piece to the roster, but he will also be a valuable resource for the flurry of undrafted free-agent signings by Colorado over the last couple of seasons.