Congratulations are an order to begin this one on the retirement of defenseman Michael Del Zotto.
The Stanley Cup winner played with the Blue Jackets during the 2020-2021 season in a Renaissance year under the tutelage of Tortorella. DelZotto played the most games since his first season with Vancouver at 53, and earned 13 points.
MDZ was a suitcase defender, which is not that frequently used when describing a former first round draft pick. The Ontario native played for 8 NHL teams (technically 9 if you count three team deals), 4 AHL teams, 2 OHL teams, and a Swiss team (lockout) between 2008 and 2023.
That’s a new city a year for the 33 year old. He won; got his money; and now, it’s time to look at his long term health and second career.
In 736 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, St Louis Blues Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ottawa Senators, he had 63 goals and 199 assists.
Congratulations Michael Del Zotto, and best of luck with retirement!
Speaking of retirement, the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL are hanging former deadline acquisition Thomas Vanek’s jersey #19 in the rafters on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
Despite his best seasons being with the Buffalo Sabres in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the Austrian also played many games after around the National - New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, and Columbus.
Vancouver moved Vanek to Columbus at the 2018 trade deadline for forwards Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte. In 19 regular season games, the left winger had 7 goals and 8 assists. In 6 playoff games, the final playoff series of his career, he had a goal and an assist.
Circling back to Jokinen, he has been hired by the Finnish National Under 20 Developmental Program in what will be his first ever season of coaching.
In 14 games with the Blue Jackets, the shootout superstar had only one assist in his quick run in town.
Two former Blue Jackets have signed with teams on PTOs this past week, including forward Ryan Dzingel and goaltender Jean-Francois Berube.
Dzingel joined the Jackets in the 2019 trade deadline in a trade with a seventh round pick that sent two second round picks and Anthony Duclair the other way. OUCH
Dzingel had 12 points in 21 games with the Jackets, including 4 goals and 8 assists. The former Buckeye had a goal in the 9 postseason games Columbus played in.
JF Berube returns where it all started for him on a tryout basis with the LA Kings.
Berube had two stints with the Blue Jackets - 2019 and 2022.
JFB was traded to Columbus by Chicago for former first rounder Jordan Schroeder, and refunded as a free agent.
In 6 games as the starter, Berube was a 3-2-0 record with a 4.12 GAA, 0.900 save percentage %, and had one assist (his only NHL point).
Thoughts on the alumni moves?