Cam Atkinson Night: Blue Jackets Honor Former Star

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Cam Atkinson to Retire as Columbus Blue Jackets After Illustrious NHL Career

A celebrated career will come full circle as forward Cam Atkinson will officially retire as a member of the Columbus Blue jackets, the team announced today.The club will honor Atkinson prior to their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, October 16, wiht a press conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m.ET at Nationwide Arena and streamed live on BlueJackets.com and the club’s YouTube page.

Did you know?– Cam Atkinson’s six hat tricks are the moast in Blue Jackets franchise history. He recorded them within a 20-month span between April 2012 and December 2018.

A Decade of Dominance in Columbus

Atkinson, 36, spent the first ten seasons of his National Hockey League journey with the Blue Jackets, from 2011 to 2021. during that time, he established himself as a fan favorite and a key offensive contributor, amassing 213 goals and 189 assists for a total of 402 points in 627 games. He also accumulated 146 penalty minutes and maintained a +17 plus/minus rating.

His impact on the franchise is undeniable, placing him among the Blue Jackets’ all-time leaders in numerous statistical categories. Atkinson currently ranks second in franchise points (behind Rick Nash with 547), second in goals (Nash-289), and is tied for second in game-winning goals (42, alongside Nash). He also holds the second-highest number of shots on goal (1,883, trailing Nash’s 2,278), stands third in power play goals (42), fourth in power play points (95), and fifth in total assists.

Reader question:– Atkinson was a late-round draft pick. how did he become an NHL star? He excelled at boston College,earning All-American honors and leading the Eagles to a national championship.

All-star Recognition and playoff Prowess

the right wing’s exceptional play earned him two NHL All-Star Game appearances in 2017 and 2019,and he was honored as a member of the Blue jackets’ Quarter-Century Team. atkinson also demonstrated a knack for scoring in bunches, registering a franchise-record six hat tricks throughout his career: against the Colorado Avalanche on April 5, 2012; against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 27, 2015; against the Montreal Canadiens on January 25, 2016; against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 15, 2018; against the Carolina Hurricanes on November 17, 2018; and against the Calgary Flames on December 4, 2018.

Beyond the regular season, Atkinson excelled in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the Blue Jackets in goals, assists, and points with a total of 26 points (10 goals and 16 assists) in 35 career postseason games.

Pro tip:– Watch for Atkinson’s highlights! His fast release and accurate shot made him a consistent scoring threat throughout his career.

From Draft Pick to NHL Star

Originally selected by the Blue Jackets in the sixth round, 157th of the 2008 NHL Draft, Atkinson honed his skills at Boston college, where he achieved meaningful accolades. He was named a First Team All-American in 2011, a finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award that same year, and contributed to the Eagles’ national championship victory in 2010. He made his NHL debut on October 7, 2011, against the Nashville Predators, and went on to compile 253 goals,