Early career Pyatt played three seasons with the
Sudbury Wolves of the
Ontario Hockey League (OHL). After scoring 75 points in 68 games in his second OHL season, Pyatt was selected eighth overall in the
1999 NHL entry draft by the
New York Islanders. The next season, his third and final with Sudbury, Pyatt scored 89 points in 68 games, earning OHL First All-Star Team honours.
New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres In
2000–01, Pyatt made the final cut out of the Islanders' training camp as the only player with no prior NHL experience. On November 27, 2000, he scored his first NHL goal, against the
Tampa Bay Lightning. After Pyatt's rookie season, during which he scored 18 points in 78 games, the Islanders traded him to the
Buffalo Sabres (along with
Tim Connolly) in exchange for
Frank J. Selke Trophy winner
Michael Peca in a draft-day trade. During the
2004–05 lockout, Pyatt went overseas to play for
Hammarby IF of the Swedish
HockeyAllsvenskan.
Vancouver Canucks After four seasons with Buffalo, on July 14, 2006, Pyatt was traded to the
Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in the
2007 NHL entry draft (later traded by Buffalo to the
Calgary Flames). Pyatt benefitted from playing on the Canucks' top line with twins
Henrik and
Daniel Sedin, leading to career highs in goals and points, with 23 and 37 respectively. During the
2007–08 season, on January 13, 2008, Pyatt took a stick to the face. Getting in the way of an
Eric Brewer clearing attempt in a game against the
St. Louis Blues, he required 25 stitches in his upper lip and a splint in his mouth to hold up his teeth. He wore a full face shield upon his return to the lineup and elected to wear a visor for the remainder of his Vancouver tenure. Despite being taken off the Canucks' top line with the Sedins during the season, Pyatt completed the campaign matching his career-high of 37 points, as well as setting a new career mark for assists with 21. The next season, in
2008–09, Pyatt was sidelined for eight games due to a foot injury suffered on December 17, 2008. Following an injury to
Pavol Demitra during the
2009 playoffs, Pyatt made his return to the lineup on May 5 for Game 3 of the second round against the
Chicago Blackhawks. Following the Canucks' second round elimination, it was revealed Pyatt required off-season surgery to his knee.
Phoenix Coyotes After not being re-signed by the Canucks, Pyatt became an unrestricted
free agent on July 1, 2009. Two months later, he signed a one-year, $600,000 contract with the
Phoenix Coyotes. Going into his
first season with the Coyotes, Pyatt suffered a lower body injury during training camp and missed the team's first five regular season games. One month after returning to the Coyotes' lineup, he and younger brother
Tom Pyatt of the
Montreal Canadiens played against each other for the first time in their careers. On December 23, 2009, as the Coyotes played their final game before the NHL Christmas break against the
Anaheim Ducks, Pyatt scored the second goal of the game, his 200th career NHL point. Near the end of the regular season, Pyatt recorded a
Gordie Howe hat trick against the
Colorado Avalanche after scoring a goal, recording an assist and engaging in a fight. The Coyotes defeated the Avalanche 6–2 and clinched their first playoff berth in seven seasons. On June 21, 2010, Pyatt signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with Phoenix, avoiding unrestricted free agency. In his
second season with the Coyotes, Pyatt began scoring more frequently than in his previous season. However, on December 20, 2010, in a 6–1 loss to the
Pittsburgh Penguins, Pyatt suffered an upper body injury during a fight with Penguins
enforcer Deryk Engelland and was subsequently placed on the Coyotes'
injured reserve list. After missing four games, he returned to the lineup for the Coyotes' New Year's Eve game against the St. Louis Blues.
New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins On July 3, 2012, Pyatt signed with the
New York Rangers on a two-year, $3.1 million contract. In the final year of his contract with the Rangers on January 2, 2014, Pyatt was claimed off of waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored his first goal with the Penguins on January 15, 2014, against the
Washington Capitals. He would add three more goals during the remainder of the season. He did not play in the
2014 playoffs.
Switzerland and retirement On July 24, 2014, with indication of little NHL interest, Pyatt agreed to a one-year free agent contract with Swiss team
Genève-Servette HC of the
National League A. For the first time in his career, Pyatt played alongside brother Tom Pyatt with Genève-Servette. After one season in Switzerland, his 15th professional season, Pyatt retired from professional hockey. ==Personal life==