David Tanabe

David Tanabe (born July 19, 1980 in White Bear Lake, Minnesota) is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman.

Playing career
David was in the first group of US high school hockey players to train in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the Cube, site of the National Team Development Program. After graduating from High School in Ann Arbor in 1998, David played one year of Division 1 Hockey for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin. Tanabe was drafted 16th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft becoming the first graduate of the National Team Development Program to be drafted in the first round. During his first NHL game he scored his first goal during a power play against the Calgary Flames, Grant Fuhr was in the net.

On August 5, 2006 the Boston Bruins decided to "walk-away" from a contract of $1.275 million that was awarded to Tanabe by an arbitrator on August 3, 2006. Under NHL rules Tanabe became an immediate unrestricted free agent. On August 29, 2006, Tanabe was signed by the Hurricanes. In December 2007, Tanabe suffered a concussion against the Toronto Maple Leafs. On October 18, 2008, the Hurricanes reached a settlement with Tanabe on the last year of his contract, at which time his agent stated that Tanabe had been advised by his doctor to not play hockey again.

Personal
David, his wife Kate, daughter Allison and son Nolan, live in Woodbury, MN during the summer months.

Career statistics
--- Regular Season ---  Playoffs Season  Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM -- 1997-98 U.S. Jr. National Team      USHL   21    1    3    4   18  --  --  --  --  -- 1997-98 U.S. National Under-18 Te   NAHL   12    1    2    3   10  --  --  --  --  -- 1998-99 U. of Wisconsin             NCAA   35   10   12   22   44  --  --  --  --  -- 1999-00 Cincinnati Cyclones         IHL    32    0   13   13   14  11   1   4   5   6 1999-00 Carolina Hurricanes         NHL    31    4    0    4   14  --  --  --  --  -- 2000-01 Carolina Hurricanes         NHL    74    7   22   29   42   6   2   0   2  12 2001-02 Carolina Hurricanes         NHL    78    1   15   16   35   1   0   1   1   0 2002-03 Carolina Hurricanes         NHL    68    3   10   13   24  --  --  --  --  -- 2003-04 Phoenix Coyotes             NHL    45    5    7   12   22  --  --  --  --  -- 2004-05 Kloten/Rapperswil-Jona      Swiss  28    7   12   19   22  --  --  --  --  -- 2005-06 Phoenix/Boston              NHL    75    4   16   20   56  --  --  --  --  -- 2006-07 Carolina Hurricanes         NHL    60    5   12   17   44  --  --  --  --  -- 2007-08 Carolina Hurricanes         NHL    18    1    2    3    8  --  --  --  --  -- --        NHL Totals                        449   30   84  114  245   7   2   1   3  12