Zac Dalpe

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.

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.

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. Dalpe recorded an assist in the game for his first NHL point. 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.

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

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. He scored his first goal for the Wild as their only goal on April 9, 2016 against Niklas Backstrom of the Calgary Flames.

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. 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. Dalpe started the 2017–18 season on the Blue Jackets' NHL roster before he was later returned to the Monsters after 12 games.

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.

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.

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

On April 28, 2023, Dalpe scored his first Stanley Cup playoff goal in game 6 of the first-round series between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins, tying the game at 4–4 for the Panthers. The Panthers would go on to win the game 7–5, tying the series at 3 and eventually defeated the Bruins in game 7 to pull off one of the greatest upsets in NHL history.

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

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2004–05 Brantford '99ers MHAO 67 24 18 42 12 — — — — — 2005–06 Brantford '99ers MHAO 39 33 40 73 36 — — — — — 2006–07 Stratford Cullitons GOJHL 48 26 40 66 62 — — — — — 2007–08 Penticton Vees BCHL 46 27 36 63 114 — — — — — 2008–09 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 37 13 12 25 25 — — — — — 2009–10 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 39 21 24 45 19 — — — — — 2009–10 Albany River Rats AHL 9 6 1 7 0 8 3 3 6 0 2010–11 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 15 3 1 4 0 — — — — — 2010–11 Charlotte Checkers AHL 61 23 34 57 21 16 6 7 13 6 2011–12 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 16 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 2011–12 Charlotte Checkers AHL 56 18 13 31 17 — — — — — 2012–13 Charlotte Checkers AHL 54 21 21 42 12 5 0 0 0 4 2012–13 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 10 1 2 3 0 — — — — — 2013–14 Vancouver Canucks NHL 55 4 3 7 6 — — — — — 2013–14 Utica Comets AHL 6 0 3 3 2 — — — — — 2014–15 Rochester Americans AHL 44 16 12 28 0 — — — — — 2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 21 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 2015–16 Iowa Wild AHL 8 3 1 4 24 — — — — — 2015–16 Minnesota Wild NHL 2 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 2016–17 Minnesota Wild NHL 9 1 2 3 9 — — — — — 2016–17 Iowa Wild AHL 12 2 0 2 0 — — — — — 2016–17 Cleveland Monsters AHL 20 8 7 15 22 — — — — — 2017–18 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 12 0 0 0 13 — — — — — 2017–18 Cleveland Monsters AHL 35 11 15 26 35 — — — — — 2018–19 Cleveland Monsters AHL 55 33 22 55 43 8 2 1 3 16 2018–19 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 1 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2019–20 Cleveland Monsters AHL 18 7 4 11 4 — — — — — 2020–21 Cleveland Monsters AHL 5 3 1 4 5 — — — — — 2020–21 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 12 2 1 3 0 — — — — — 2021–22 Charlotte Checkers AHL 68 30 9 39 43 7 7 1 8 2 2021–22 Florida Panthers NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Charlotte Checkers AHL 47 21 14 35 19 — — — — — 2022–23 Florida Panthers NHL 14 2 2 4 2 13 1 0 1 2 2023–24 Charlotte Checkers AHL 67 17 13 30 50 3 1 0 1 2 2024–25 Charlotte Checkers AHL 9 1 2 3 2 — — — — — NHL totals 168 16 16 32 38 16 1 0 1 2

Awards and honours Award YearCollege All-CCHA Rookie Team 2009 All-CCHA First Team 2010 AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2010