Zac Dalpe

Last updated
Zac Dalpe
20250203 AHLAllStarClassic Zac Dalpe.jpg
Dalpe in 2025
Born (1989-11-01) November 1, 1989 (age 35)
Paris, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 193 lb (88 kg; 13 st 11 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Carolina Hurricanes
Vancouver Canucks
Buffalo Sabres
Minnesota Wild
Columbus Blue Jackets
Florida Panthers
NHL draft 45th overall, 2008
Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career 20102025
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada West
World Junior A Challenge
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2007 Trail

Zac Dalpe (born November 1, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Drafted 45th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2008, Dalpe played in the British Columbia Hockey League and Central Collegiate Hockey Association before turning professional.

Contents

Playing career

Minor Hockey

Dalpe grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Paris, Ontario for the Paris Wolfpack of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA)'s Southern Counties League. He later played for the Brantford 99'ers AAA club in Western Ontario's Pavilion League. In 2004-05, Dalpe advanced to the AAA Minor Midget level for the 99'ers.

Listed in his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft year at just 5'5" and 115 lbs., Dalpe went unselected in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection and returned to play AAA Major Midget in 2005-06.

Junior and College

After playing Major Midget, Dalpe signed with the Stratford Cullitons Junior B club of the Midwestern Ontario Hockey League for 2006-07. The following year, Dalpe headed to Western Canada and signed with the British Columbia Hockey League's Penticton Vees Junior A club in 2007-08.

After that season, Dalpe was drafted in the 2nd round (26th overall) of the 2008 OHL Priority Draft by the Plymouth Whalers. That same year, he was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes (2nd round, 45th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. [1]

Dalpe did not play for Plymouth or Carolina (Hurricanes/River Rats/Checkers) that year. Instead, he chose to accept an NCAA scholarship at Ohio State University for the 2008-09 campaign. He played for the Buckeyes for two seasons before making the jump to professional hockey.

Professional

Dalpe played in his first NHL game on October 7, 2010, after impressing the Hurricanes during training camp and surviving several rounds of cuts. [2] Dalpe recorded an assist in the game for his first NHL point. [3] He scored his first NHL goal on January 1, 2011 against Johan Hedberg of the New Jersey Devils. Prior to the start of the 2013–14 season Dalpe, along with Jeremy Welsh, was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Kellan Tochkin and a fourth round selection in the 2014 NHL Draft. [4]

On July 13, 2014, Dalpe signed a one-year free agent contract with the Buffalo Sabres. [5]

Dalpe was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Sabres, and on the first day of free agency signed a one-year, two way contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2015. [6] He scored his first goal for the Wild as their only goal on April 9, 2016 against Niklas Backstrom of the Calgary Flames. [7]

Dalpe made the Wild's opening night roster for the 2016–17 season, appearing in 9 games for 3 points before suffering a knee injury, requiring surgery, against the Dallas Stars on October 30, 2016. Upon his return to health, Dalpe was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, before suffering a second knee injury. On February 27, 2017, Dalpe was placed on waivers; he was claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. [8] He was immediately reassigned to the AHL to play with the Jackets' affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.

On June 9, 2017, the Blue Jackets re-signed Dalpe to a two-year, two-way contract extension. [9] Dalpe started the 2017–18 season on the Blue Jackets' NHL roster before he was later returned to the Monsters after 12 games. [10]

During the 2018–19 season, while leading the Cleveland Monsters in goals and points, Dalpe was signed to a two-year, two-way extension to remain with the Blue Jackets on February 27, 2019. [11]

After five seasons within the Blue Jackets organization, on July 30, 2021, Dalpe left the club as a free agent and signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers, marking a return to play with affiliate and former AHL club, the Charlotte Checkers. [12]

Dalpe was named as the Checkers team captain for the 2021-2022 season. [13]

On July 7, 2025, Dalpe announced his retirement from hockey. [14]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2004–05Brantford '99ersMHAO6724184212
2005–06Brantford '99ersMHAO3933407336
2006–07 Stratford Cullitons GOJHL 4826406662
2007–08 Penticton Vees BCHL 46273663114
2008–09 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 3713122525
2009–10 Ohio State BuckeyesCCHA3921244519
2009–10 Albany River Rats AHL 9617083360
2010–11 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 153140
2010–11 Charlotte Checkers AHL61233457211667136
2011–12 Carolina HurricanesNHL161234
2011–12 Charlotte CheckersAHL5618133117
2012–13 Charlotte CheckersAHL542121421250004
2012–13 Carolina HurricanesNHL101230
2013–14 Vancouver Canucks NHL554376
2013–14 Utica Comets AHL60332
2014–15 Rochester Americans AHL441612280
2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL211234
2015–16 Iowa Wild AHL831424
2015–16 Minnesota Wild NHL2101030000
2016–17 Minnesota WildNHL91239
2016–17 Iowa WildAHL122020
2016–17 Cleveland Monsters AHL20871522
2017–18 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL1200013
2017–18 Cleveland MonstersAHL3511152635
2018–19 Cleveland MonstersAHL5533225543821316
2018–19 Columbus Blue JacketsNHL10110
2019–20 Cleveland MonstersAHL1874114
2020–21 Cleveland MonstersAHL53145
2020–21 Columbus Blue JacketsNHL122130
2021–22 Charlotte CheckersAHL68309394377182
2021–22 Florida Panthers NHL10000
2022–23 Charlotte CheckersAHL4721143519
2022–23 Florida PanthersNHL142242131012
2023–24 Charlotte CheckersAHL671713305031012
2024–25 Charlotte CheckersAHL91232
NHL totals16816163238161012

Awards and honours

AwardYear
College
All-CCHA Rookie Team 2009
All-CCHA First Team 2010
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2010

References

  1. "Zac Dalpe Stats". Elite Prospects. 2010-02-03. Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  2. Bellefeuille, Casandra. "Dalpe thrives at Hurricanes' camp and inches closer to NHL dream". www.parisstaronline.com. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  3. Ratcliff, Mark. "Cary-lina Hurricanes: Time to Lace 'em Up!". carycitizen.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  4. "Canucks acquire Zac Dalpe, Jeremy Welsh from Hurricanes". CBC. 2013-09-29. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-09-30.
  5. "Sabres sign forward Zac Dalpe". Sabresdigitalpressbox.com. 2014-07-13. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  6. "Wild signs Dalpe, Fedotenko and Hagel". Minnesota Wild. 2015-07-01. Archived from the original on 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  7. "Flames rally to hand Wild fifth straight loss". wild.nhl.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  8. "Dalpe claimed off waivers; Wild's Boudreau, players react to Hanzal trade". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2017-02-27. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  9. "Blue Jackets sign Dalpe to two-year extension". Columbus Blue Jackets. 2017-06-09. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
  10. "Columbus Blue Jackets set season-opening roster". Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  11. "Blue Jackets sign Zac Daple to two-year extension". Columbus Blue Jackets. February 27, 2019. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  12. "Panthers agree to terms with forward Zac Dalpe". Florida Panthers. July 30, 2021. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  13. "ZAC DALPE NAMED SEVENTH CAPTAIN IN FRANCHISE HISTORY". Charlotte Checkers. 2021. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  14. "I Got To Go, It's Been A Pleasure Doing Business With You". charlottecheckers.com. July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.