Zac Dalpe (born November 1, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League (NHL). 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.

Zac Dalpe
Dalpe with the Charlotte Checkers in 2013
Born (1989-11-01) November 1, 1989 (age 34)
Paris, Ontario, Canada
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight193 lb (88 kg; 13 st 11 lb)
PositionCentre
ShootsRight
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Florida Panthers
Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Carolina Hurricanes
Vancouver Canucks
Buffalo Sabres
Minnesota Wild
Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL draft45th overall, 2008
Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career2010–present
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Canada West
World Junior A Challenge
Gold medal – first place 2007 Trail

Playing career

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Minor Hockey

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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

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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

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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]

Career statistics

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2004–05Brantford '99ersMHAO6724184212
2005–06Brantford '99ersMHAO3933407336
2006–07Stratford CullitonsGOJHL4826406662
2007–08Penticton VeesBCHL46273663114
2008–09Ohio State BuckeyesCCHA3713122525
2009–10Ohio State BuckeyesCCHA3921244519
2009–10Albany River RatsAHL9617083360
2010–11Carolina HurricanesNHL153140
2010–11Charlotte CheckersAHL61233457211667136
2011–12Carolina HurricanesNHL161234
2011–12Charlotte CheckersAHL5618133117
2012–13Charlotte CheckersAHL542121421250004
2012–13Carolina HurricanesNHL101230
2013–14Vancouver CanucksNHL554376
2013–14Utica CometsAHL60332
2014–15Rochester AmericansAHL441612280
2014–15Buffalo SabresNHL211234
2015–16Iowa WildAHL831424
2015–16Minnesota WildNHL2101030000
2016–17Minnesota WildNHL91239
2016–17Iowa WildAHL122020
2016–17Cleveland MonstersAHL20871522
2017–18Columbus Blue JacketsNHL1200013
2017–18Cleveland MonstersAHL3511152635
2018–19Cleveland MonstersAHL5533225543821316
2018–19Columbus Blue JacketsNHL10110
2019–20Cleveland MonstersAHL1874114
2020–21Cleveland MonstersAHL53145
2020–21Columbus Blue JacketsNHL122130
2021–22Charlotte CheckersAHL68309394377182
2021–22Florida PanthersNHL10000
2022–23Charlotte CheckersAHL4721143519
2022–23Florida PanthersNHL142242131012
2023–24Charlotte CheckersAHL671713305031012
NHL totals16816163238161012

Awards and honours

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AwardYear
College
All-CCHA Rookie Team2009
All-CCHA First Team2010
AHCA West Second-Team All-American2010

References

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  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.
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