Jeff Zatkoff

Jeff Zatkoff
Born	(1987-06-09) June 9, 1987 (age 36) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
team Former teams	Free Agent Pittsburgh Penguins Los Angeles Kings Straubing Tigers
NHL Draft	74th overall, 2006 Los Angeles Kings
Playing career	2008–present

Jeff Zatkoff (born June 9, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played for the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Playing career

As a youth, Zatkoff played in the 2001 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Little Caesars minor ice hockey team. ^[1]

College

Zatkoff was drafted in the third round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, 74th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings after playing collegiately for the Miami University Redhawks. Zatkoff was named CCHA All-Conference Team honorable mention in 2006–07 as a sophomore. He was also named Rookie of the Year in 2005–06 as a freshman for the Redhawks, starting 20 games and helping lead the team to a regular-season CCHA Conference title. ^[2]

Professional

Los Angeles Kings

On April 10, 2008, Zatkoff signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Zatkoff was also signed to an amateur try-out agreement with the Ontario Reign on April 11, 2008. He made his professional debut with the Reign, appearing in 37 games during the 2008–09 season. ^[3] Zatkoff played for the Manchester Monarchs through the 2011–12 season.^{[ citation needed ]}

Zatkoff with the Penguins during the 2016 playoffs

Pittsburgh Penguins

Zatkoff signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2012. ^[4] On March 28, 2013, Zatkoff was recalled by Pittsburgh to be a backup for Tomas Vokoun for a game against the Winnipeg Jets due to a neck injury suffered by Marc-André Fleury. ^[5] Vokoun played the entire game and Zatkoff was returned to Wilkes-Barre the following day when doctors cleared Fleury to return. ^[6] Zatkoff and teammate Brad Thiessen were awarded with the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award at the conclusion of the 2012–13 AHL season. The Hap Holmes Award is given to the goaltender(s) who play at least 25 games for the team that allows the fewest goals against over the course of the season. ^[7]

Zatkoff was expected to spend the 2013–14 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. However, a blood clot suffered by Vokoun meant that Zatkoff started the season backing up Pittsburgh starter Marc-André Fleury. On October 11, 2013, Zatkoff made his NHL debut, making 24 saves in a 6–3 loss to the Florida Panthers. ^[8] His first NHL victory was a 3–0 shutout of the Blue Jackets in Columbus on November 2, 2013. ^[9]

On April 13, 2016, Zatkoff started Game 1 of the Penguins' first round series against the New York Rangers. Regular starter Marc-André Fleury was out with a concussion and backup Matt Murray was also in concussion protocol. Zatkoff made 35 saves on 37 shots and was named the game's second star, helping the Penguins to a 5–2 win. ^[10] After a loss in Game 2, Zatkoff was replaced by Murray, who remained in net for the rest of the playoffs despite Fleury's eventual return to the lineup. The Penguins eventually won the Stanley Cup on June 12, 2016, against the San Jose Sharks; the victory earned him a Stanley Cup ring, his name on the Cup and the nickname "Mr. Game One" among teammates and fans. ^[11]

Return to Los Angeles

On July 1, 2016, Zatkoff ended his tenure with the Penguins, returning to the Kings on a one-year, two-way free agent contract. ^[12] Installed as the Kings backup for the 2016–17 season, Zatkoff struggled to find form and despite the loss of starting goaltender Jonathan Quick to long-term injury, he was surpassed on the depth chart and assigned to AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign after 13 games.^{[ citation needed ]}

Columbus Blue Jackets

Not having played a game past the midpoint of the 2017–18 season, on January 22, 2018, Zatkoff was traded by the Kings to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for future considerations. He was immediately assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. ^[13]

Europe

As a free agent from the Blue Jackets in the following off-season, and with little NHL interest, Zatkoff opted to pursue a European career in signing a one-year contract with German club, the Straubing Tigers of the DEL, on July 6, 2018. ^[14]

International play

Medal record
Representing   United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2007 Sweden

Zatkoff represented the United States at the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, held in Sweden, where his team earned a bronze medal.

Personal life

Jeff is the great nephew of Roger Zatkoff, who played in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. His father, Jeff, was drafted by the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association after playing collegiately at Eastern Michigan, and attended high school at Chippewa Valley High School.

Career statistics

With the Monarchs

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T/OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2004–05	Sioux City Musketeers	USHL		24	13	6	3	1,271	54	1	2.55	.914		2	0	0	67	10	0	8.88	.706
2005–06	Miami RedHawks	CCHA		20	14	5	1	1,217	41	3	2.02	.928		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Miami RedHawks	CCHA		26	14	8	3	1,542	58	1	2.26	.919		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Miami RedHawks	CCHA		36	27	8	1	2,161	62	3	1.72	.933		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Ontario Reign	ECHL		37	17	15	3	2,164	107	1	2.97	.915		7	3	3	418	26	0	3.73	.872
2008–09	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		3	1	2	0	182	7	0	2.31	.918		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		22	10	9	0	1,170	57	2	2.92	.915		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		45	20	17	5	2,508	112	3	2.68	.911		5	1	3	253	16	0	3.80	.891
2011–12	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		44	21	17	1	2,431	101	3	2.49	.920		2	0	2	97	7	0	4.34	.865
2012–13	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		49	26	20	0	2,799	90	5	1.93	.920		5	2	3	253	23	0	5.45	.838
2013–14	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		20	12	6	2	1,171	51	1	2.61	.912		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		37	18	14	4	2,155	88	3	2.45	.910		2	0	0	59	1	0	1.02	.958
2014–15	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		1	0	1	0	37	1	0	1.62	.941		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		14	4	7	1	732	34	0	2.79	.917		2	1	1	117	6	0	3.07	.908
2016–17	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		13	2	7	1	551	27	0	2.95	.879		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Ontario Reign	AHL		8	2	3	3	458	23	0	3.01	.900		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Cleveland Monsters	AHL		17	4	9	2	912	49	2	3.22	.885		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Straubing Tigers	DEL		45	24	20	0	2,633	114	4	2.60	.910		2	0	2	127	7	0	3.00	.910
2019–20	Straubing Tigers	DEL		30	22	6	0	1,696	68	1	2.41	.911		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				48	18	21	4	2,491	113	1	2.72	.908		2	1	1	117	6	0	3.07	.908

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
All-CCHA Second Team	2007–08	[15]
CCHA All-Tournament Team	2008	[16]
AHL
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award	2013
NHL
Stanley Cup champion	2016	[17]

References

1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
2. "Zatkoff profile". muredhawks.cstv.com. January 2, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
3. "Premier 'AA' Hockey League | Five debuts give ECHL 520 players to reach NHL". The Echl. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
4. "Penguins Sign Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff and Forward Riley Holzapfel". July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
5. "Penguins Recall Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff". March 28, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
6. "Penguins Re-Assign Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton". March 29, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
7. "Penguins pair win Hap Holmes award". American Hockey League. April 1, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
8. "For Penguins' Zatkoff, disappointing debut". Trib Total Media. October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
9. "Zatkoff wins 1st as Pens continue to roll". Trib Total Media. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
10. "Patric Hornqvist lifts Penguins past Rangers with hat trick in opener". ESPN. April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
11. "Pens present Zatkoff with his Stanley Cup ring". NHL.com. November 3, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
12. "Jeff Zatkoff agrees to terms on a two-way contract". Los Angeles Kings. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
13. "LA Kings Trade Jeff Zatkoff to Columbus Blue Jackets". NHL.com. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
14. "Jeff Zatkoff - a Stanley Cup winner for Straubing Tigers" (in German). Straubing Tigers. July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
15. "All-CCHA Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
16. "2012–13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
17. "Pittsburgh Penguins - San Jose Sharks - June 12th, 2016". NHL.com. June 12, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2018.

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

Awards and achievements
Preceded by David Brown	CCHA Best Goaltender 2007–08	Succeeded by Chad Johnson