William Bitten

Will Bitten
Born	(1998-07-10) July 10, 1998 (age 25) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position	Center/Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team (P) Cur. team	St. Louis Blues Springfield Thunderbirds  (AHL)
NHL Draft	70th overall, 2016 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	2018–present

William Bitten (born July 10, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect under contract to the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third-round, 70th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Bitten played major junior hockey with the Plymouth Whalers, Flint Firebirds, and the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 2014–2018. During his tenure in the OHL, he was selected in the third-round, 70th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

During his final junior season with the Bulldogs, Bitten was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on March 7, 2018. ^[1]

After attending training camp with Montreal in approach to his first professional season, Bitten was traded by the Canadiens to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Gustav Olofsson on October 3, 2018. ^[2] He was assigned to begin the 2018–19 season with the Wild's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild.

Remaining in the AHL for the duration of his entry-level contract, Bitten was re-signed by the Wild to a one-year, two-way contract extension on August 9, 2021. ^[3] Continuing in his fourth season within the Wild organization in 2021–22, Bitten collected 3 goals and 8 points through 23 games before he was traded by the Wild to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Nolan Stevens on December 29, 2021. ^[4] Bitten immediately responded to the change of scenery, increasing his offensive totals in posting 10 goals and 25 points through 45 regular season games. In the post-season, Bitten led the Thunderbirds in scoring in propelling the club to the Calder Cup finals, collecting 8 goals and 21 points in just 18 games.

As a restricted free agent, Bitten was re-signed by the Blues to a two-year, two-way contract extension on July 13, 2022. ^[5] He was returned to the Thunderbirds to begin the 2022–23 season, before he received his first recall to the Blues on December 3, 2022. ^[6] He made his NHL debut with the Blues that night, skating on the fourth-line, in a 6-2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins. ^[7] He registered his first point, an assist, in his next appearance, helping the Blues to a 7-4 victory over the New York Islanders on December 6, 2022. ^[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013–14	Ottawa Jr. Senators	CCHL		1	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Plymouth Whalers	OHL		63	15	16	31	16		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Flint Firebirds	OHL		67	30	35	65	32		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Hamilton Bulldogs	OHL		65	23	34	57	36		7	3	0	3	8
2017–18	Hamilton Bulldogs	OHL		62	20	44	64	38		21	4	7	11	21
2018–19	Iowa Wild	AHL		63	13	16	29	20		11	0	5	5	2
2019–20	Iowa Wild	AHL		51	8	13	21	22		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Iowa Wild	AHL		31	7	12	19	19		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Iowa Wild	AHL		23	3	5	8	6		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Springfield Thunderbirds	AHL		45	10	15	25	11		18	8	13	21	22
2022–23	Springfield Thunderbirds	AHL		65	22	23	45	36		2	1	0	1	2
2022–23	St. Louis Blues	NHL		4	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Springfield Thunderbirds	AHL		68	17	16	33	32		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				4	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Canada Red	U17	6th		5	2	3	5	0
2015	Canada	IH18			4	1	1	2	0
2016	Canada	U18	4th		7	3	5	8	2
Junior totals					16	6	9	15	2

Awards and honours

Award	Year
OHL
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game	2016

References

1. "Canadiens agree to terms with Pezzetta, Bitten". Montreal Canadiens. March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
2. "Wild acquires forward Will Bitten". Minnesota Wild. October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
3. "Bitten signs one-year, two-way contract". Minnesota Wild. August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
4. "Blues acquire Bitten from Minnesota". St. Louis Blues. December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
5. "Blues sign F Will Bitten to two-year contract extension". Springfield Thunderbirds. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
6. "Blues recall Will Bitten from Springfield". St. Louis Blues. December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
7. "Kapanen's hat-trick powers Penguins to victory over the Blues". ESPN. December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
8. "Blues hold off Islanders rally, win 7-4". ESPN. December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database