Colin Blackwell

Last updated

Colin Blackwell
Colin Blackwell 3-31-2025 (cropped).jpg
Blackwell with the Dallas Stars in 2025
Born (1993-03-28) March 28, 1993 (age 32)
Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams
Dallas Stars
Nashville Predators
New York Rangers
Seattle Kraken
Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Blackhawks
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 194th overall, 2011
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 2016present

Colin Blackwell (born March 28, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Contents

Early life

Blackwell was born on March 28, 1993, to parents Jim and Carla Blackwell in North Andover, Massachusetts. Growing up, he was a fan of the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and Boston Bruins. [1] From 2004 until 2010, Blackwell played with the Valley Junior Warriors from Peewee minors through the U16 level. [2]

Playing career

Collegiate

Blackwell played high school hockey with St. John's Prep in Massachusetts from 2007 to 2011. A standout with St. John's, where he recorded 66 points in just 25 games, Blackwell was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round, 194th overall, in the 2011 NHL entry draft.

Blackwell embarked on a collegiate career with Harvard University of the ECAC. During his tenure with the Crimson, Blackwell was affected by a concussion injury, forcing him to sit out the majority of his junior and senior seasons. He returned towards the end of his senior year in 2014–15, appearing in 11 games to help the team claim the ECAC Tournament Championship. [3]

Following his redshirt senior season, Blackwell began his professional career in the 2016–17 season, signing a one-year AHL contract with the San Jose Barracuda, primary affiliate to the San Jose Sharks. In a checking line role, Blackwell produced 11 points in 57 games before making 15 post-season appearances in the playoffs.

Professional

As a free agent, Blackwell left the Sharks organization to participate in the Buffalo Sabres rookie camp, before joining its AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, on a professional tryout to begin the 2017–18 season. [3] He produced 3 points in 8 games before securing an AHL contract with the Americans on November 2, 2017. [4] He continued to find an offensive role with the Americans, increasing his points totals to lead all forwards with 17 goals and 45 points in 61 games.

Nashville Predators

On July 3, 2018, Blackwell signed his first NHL contract as a free agent, agreeing to a two-year, two-way deal with the Nashville Predators. [5] After attending the Predators training camp, Blackwell was re-assigned to start the 2018–19 season with AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. [6] Despite missing 27 games through injury, Blackwell recorded 7 goals in 14 games to earn his first recall to the Predators on January 19, 2019. [7] He made his NHL debut the same day, playing on the fourth line, in a 4–2 defeat to the Florida Panthers at Bridgestone Arena. [8]

New York Rangers

On October 9, 2020, Blackwell was signed as a free agent a two-year contract worth $725,000 annually with the New York Rangers, with the second year of his contract on a one-way basis. [9] In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, on January 24, 2021, Blackwell made his Rangers debut during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored his first goal with the team, despite a 3–2 loss. On March 28, which happened to be Blackwell's 28th birthday, Colin scored a career-high two goals against the Washington Capitals. He became the eighth Ranger to have a multi-goal game on his birthday, the first player since Ryan Callahan on March 21, 2009. In a break out season with the Rangers, Blackwell finished with 12 goals and 22 points through 47 regular season games.

Blackwell with the Seattle Kraken in 2022. Colin Blackwell 00.jpg
Blackwell with the Seattle Kraken in 2022.

Seattle Kraken

On July 21, 2021, Blackwell was selected from the Rangers at the 2021 NHL expansion draft by the Seattle Kraken. [10] Blackwell scored eight goals and 17 points in 38 games for Seattle.

Toronto Maple Leafs

On March 20, 2022, Blackwell was traded from Seattle at the NHL trade deadline to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Mark Giordano in exchange for a second-round pick in 2022 and 2023 and a third-round pick in 2024. [11] Blackwell scored two goals and three points in 19 games for Toronto to finish the regular season, then added one goal and two points in seven playoff games during the Leafs' first-round loss to the Lightning.

Blackwell with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2024 Colin Blackwell Blackhawks 2024.jpg
Blackwell with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2024

Chicago Blackhawks

On July 13, Blackwell signed a two-year, $2.4 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent. [12] [13] Blackwell appeared in 53 games for the Blackhawks before suffering a season-ending sports hernia in March 2023. His recovery was derailed by complications, which resulted in him returning later than expected in December 2023. [14] Blackwell was Chicago's nominee for the Masterton Trophy, which is awarded to the league's player who "best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." [15]

Dallas Stars

As a free agent after the conclusion of his contract with the Blackhawks, Blackwell was signed to a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Dallas Stars on July 2, 2024. [16] On April 21, 2025, he scored the game winning goal in Overtime against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2010–11 St. John's Prep USHS 2533336610
2011–12 Harvard University ECAC 345141946
2012–13 Harvard UniversityECAC213111410
2014–15 Harvard UniversityECAC115166
2015–16 Harvard UniversityECAC286131912
2016–17 San Jose Barracuda AHL 57471124153038
2017–18 Rochester Americans AHL611728452331230
2018–19 Milwaukee Admirals AHL431412262251014
2018–19 Nashville Predators NHL 60002
2019–20 Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL266172321
2019–20 Nashville PredatorsNHL27371010
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL4712102215
2021–22 Seattle Kraken NHL3989174
2021–22 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL1921310711217
2022–23 Chicago Blackhawks NHL5328106
2023–24 Chicago BlackhawksNHL44841210
2024–25 Dallas Stars NHL636111716111016
NHL totals29841509173182136
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2021 Latvia

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2021 United States WC Bronze medal icon.svg104046
Senior totals104046

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
New England Unsung Hero Award 2016

References

  1. "COLIN BLACKWELL" (PDF). cms.nhl.bamgrid.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  2. "COLIN BLACKWELL MAKES NHL DEBUT WITH PREDATORS". jrwarriors.com. January 24, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Harvard graduate Colin Blackwell impressing Sabres". buffalohockeybeat.com. September 9, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  4. "Amerks sign Colin Blackwell to AHL deal". Rochester Americans. November 2, 2017. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  5. "Predators sign Colin Blackwell to two-year contract". Nashville Predators. July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  6. "Predators assign Blackwell to Milwaukee". Nashville Predators. October 2, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  7. "Predators recall forward Colin Blackwell from Milwaukee". January 19, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  8. "Ekblad, Trochek lead Panthers over Predators". ESPN. January 19, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  9. "Rangers announce six free agent signings". New York Rangers. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  10. "Seattle Kraken make their picks". Seattle Kraken. July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  11. "Maple Leafs Acquire Giordano And Blackwell In Trade With Seattle". Toronto Maple Leafs. March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  12. "Blackhawks sign Colin Blackwell to two-year, $2.4M deal". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  13. "Athanasiou, Domi, Blackwell, Stalock, Philp and Seney signed". Chicago Blackhawks. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  14. Carlson, Matt (April 5, 2024). "Blackhawks Forward Colin Blackwell Back, Defenseman Connor Murphy Nears Return". The Hockey News . Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  15. Pope, Ben (April 5, 2024). "Colin Blackwell, Blackhawks' Masterton Trophy nominee, feeling ready to return from injury". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  16. "Stars sign Colin Blackwell". Dallas Stars. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.