Cam Atkinson

Cameron Atkinson
Atkinson with the Columbus Blue Jackets in December 2014
Born (1989-06-05) June 5, 1989 (age 35)
Riverside, Connecticut, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Tampa Bay Lightning
Columbus Blue Jackets
Philadelphia Flyers
National team  United States
NHL draft 157th overall, 2008
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2011–present

Cameron Thomas Atkinson (born June 5, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Atkinson was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round, 157th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and has also played for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Although smaller than most forwards in the NHL, he is known for his great speed, slick agility, soft hands, and excellent shooting skills.[1]

Early life

Atkinson was born on June 5, 1989, in Riverside, Connecticut,[2] the middle child of five born to Tom and Ellen Atkinson. All of the Atkinson children began playing hockey at a young age, and while Cam dabbled in "pretty much every sport", his two passions were tennis and ice hockey.[3] In 2004, Atkinson began attending Avon Old Farms, an all-boys' boarding school in Avon, Connecticut, known for its hockey team.[4] When he was 15 years old, Atkinson fractured both his tibia and fibula during a hockey tournament in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and he was told by a doctor that he likely would not skate again. Atkinson's parents had the doctor put his leg in a splint while they sought another opinion. The second physician recommended that a rod and two pins be surgically inserted into Atkinson's leg, and he made a full recovery.[5]

Playing career

Collegiate

Atkinson, smaller than most other hockey players at 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) was generally overlooked by National Hockey League (NHL) teams during his draft year. He was ultimately selected in the sixth round, 157th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[6] Rather than enter the NHL right away, Atkinson chose to honor his commitment to play college ice hockey for the Boston College Eagles.[7] His first collegiate goal was the game-winner in his debut game, a 5-4 win over the Wisconsin Badgers on October 10, 2008. He was named Hockey East's Rookie of the Week for the performance.[8] Atkinson played in all 36 regular-season games for Boston College during his freshman 2008–09 season, recording seven goals, including two game-winning goals, and 12 assists for a total of 19 points.[9] Despite the Eagles honoring Atkinson with the Bernie Burke Outstanding Freshman Award, he regarded his own season with trepidation, telling reporters that one "can't have the highest of expectations as a freshman".[10]

In the 2009–10 season, Atkinson led the NCAA in goals scored with 30, including two in the National Championship game.[11] During one stretch of the 2009–10 season Atkinson scored three hat-tricks in ten games.[12]

Professional

Columbus Blue Jackets

On March 27, 2011, Columbus signed Atkinson to a two-year entry-level contract that included an amateur tryout agreement to finish out the 2010–11 season for the Springfield Falcons, the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.[13][14] He made his professional hockey debut on April 1, 2011, scoring the game-winning goal in a victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.[15] He appeared in five games for Springfield that season, with three goals and five points in the process.[16]

His first NHL goal was scored on October 10, 2011, against Cory Schneider of the Vancouver Canucks, a game the Canucks won 3–2.[17] He was returned to Springfield after playing four games with Columbus in the 2011–12 NHL season.[18]

After his return to the AHL, Atkinson was named to the 2012 AHL Eastern Conference All-Star Team on January 4, 2012, as a result of his impressive play with Springfield during the 2011–12 AHL season, with 15 goals and ten assists through 30 games. He was one of 13 rookies named to the two All-Star teams.[19]

Atkinson with the Blue Jackets, November 2013

On April 5, 2012, Atkinson recorded his first career NHL hat-trick against the Colorado Avalanche in a 5–2 Blue Jacket win.[20] Atkinson recorded his second hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks to help the Blue Jackets win 5–2 on March 27, 2015.[21][22] Atkinson recorded his third career hat trick during the 2015–16 season in a 5–2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.[23]

During the 2016-17 NHL season, Atkinson experienced a breakout season, recording phenomenal numbers and helping the Blue Jackets ascend to the top of the standings. He was named to the 2017 NHL All-Star Game as a replacement for Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin, who was pulled out from a lower-body injury.[24] Atkinson was previously considered to have been "snubbed" by being left off the original roster.[25]

On November 16, 2017, the Blue Jackets signed Atkinson to a seven-year, $41.125 million contract extension worth $5.875 million annually.[26] During the 2017–18 season Atkinson recorded his fourth hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers to help the Blue Jackets win their sixth straight game.[27][28]

Atkinson had statistically the best season of his career during the 2018–19 season. His 41 goals, 28 assists, and 69 points were career bests in each category. Atkinson also added 8 points in 10 games during the playoffs.

Philadelphia Flyers

On July 24, 2021, Atkinson was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Jakub Voráček.[29]

He did not play the 2022–23 NHL season due to having a herniated disc while also needing to undergo surgery in his left tricep. Atkinson was placed on the injured reserve after his diagnosis was discovered during training camp.[30] He would subsequently return to the team the following season. Following that season, however, Philadelphia opted to buy out the final year of his contract, making Atkinson a free agent.[31]

Tampa Bay Lightning

As an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, Atkinson signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 2, 2024.[32]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Avon Old Farms HS-Prep 25 15 20 35 16 — — — — —
2006–07 Avon Old Farms HS-Prep 27 28 24 52 12 — — — — —
2007–08 Avon Old Farms HS-Prep 28 26 37 63 10 — — — — —
2008–09 Boston College HE 36 7 12 19 28 — — — — —
2009–10 Boston College HE 42 30 23 53 30 — — — — —
2010–11 Boston College HE 38 31 21 52 28 — — — — —
2010–11 Springfield Falcons AHL 5 3 2 5 0 — — — — —
2011–12 Springfield Falcons AHL 51 29 15 44 31 — — — — —
2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 27 7 7 14 14 — — — — —
2012–13 Springfield Falcons AHL 33 17 21 38 14 — — — — —
2012–13 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 35 9 9 18 4 — — — — —
2013–14 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 79 21 19 40 18 6 1 2 3 0
2014–15 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 78 22 18 40 22 — — — — —
2015–16 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 81 27 26 53 22 — — — — —
2016–17 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 35 27 62 22 5 2 1 3 0
2017–18 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 65 24 22 46 14 6 2 2 4 2
2018–19 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 80 41 28 69 20 10 2 6 8 4
2019–20 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 44 12 14 26 6 8 3 5 8 4
2020–21 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 56 15 19 34 4 — — — — —
2021–22 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 73 23 27 50 10 — — — — —
2023–24 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 70 13 15 28 27 — — — — —
NHL totals 770 249 231 480 183 35 10 16 26 10

International

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Denmark
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 United States WC 7th 8 1 2 3 4
2018 United States WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 10 7 4 11 2
Senior totals 18 8 6 14 6

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
All-Hockey East Second Team 2009–10 [33]
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2010 [34][35]
All-Hockey East First Team 2010–11 [36][37]
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2010–11
Hockey East All-Tournament Team 2011 [38]
Hockey East Tournament MVP 2011 [39]
AHL
AHL Eastern Conference All-Star Team 2011–12 [40]
NHL
NHL All-Star 2017, 2019 [41]

References

  1. ^ Howe, Jeff (March 31, 2010). "BC's Chris Kreider, Cam Atkinson Among Players to Watch During Frozen Four". NESN. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  2. ^ "Blue Jackets spotlight: Cam Atkinson". The Columbus Dispatch. September 5, 2018. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Fischer, Jim (October 5, 2016). "Candid Cam: At home with Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson". Columbus Alive. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "Meet Cam Atkinson – the Blue Jackets' unlikely leading scorer". SportsNet. The Canadian Press. January 13, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  5. ^ Bonjour, Doug (April 13, 2017). "Blue Jackets' Cam Atkinson Rebukes Naysayers With Standout Season". The New York Times. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  6. ^ McCaig, Sam (February 18, 2021). "NHL All-Star Teams By Draft Round: From the Lottery to the Last Pick". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  7. ^ "Three Hockey Players Selected In 2008 NHL Draft". BC Eagles. Boston College Athletics. June 21, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "Atkinson Earns Hockey East Rookie Of The Week Honors". BC Eagles. Boston College Athletics. October 13, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Prospect Profile: Cam Atkinson". National Hockey League. Columbus Blue Jackets. May 15, 2009. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Salomone, Dan (April 6, 2010). "Greenwich's Atkinson leads Boston College into Frozen Four". Greenwich Time. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  11. ^ Connolly, John (April 11, 2010). "Cam Atkinson reaches goals". The Boston Herald. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Marrapese-Burrell, Nancy (April 9, 2010). "Atkinson helped to hold the line". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Forward Cam Atkinson Standard Two-Year Entry Level Contract". National Hockey League. Columbus Blue Jackets. March 27, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  14. ^ Brown, Garry (March 31, 2011). "Boston College's Cam Atkinson to make pro debut with the Springfield Falcons". The Republican. Springfield, MA. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Fornabaio, Michael (November 12, 2011). "Falcons' Atkinson: 'Wherever I am, it's fun'". Greenwich Time. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  16. ^ Arace, Michael (September 27, 2011). "Michael Arace commentary: 5-7 Atkinson could loom large in Jackets' future". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  17. ^ Vancouver Canucks at Columbus Blue Jackets Game Recap – 10/10/2011
  18. ^ Berlet, B. "Whale Suffer Shootout Loss in Home Opener". Connecticut Whale. Retrieved October 17, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  19. ^ "2012 ALL-STAR ROSTERS UNVEILED". TheAHL.com. Springfield, Mass.: AHL. January 4, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  20. ^ "Blue Jackets 5, Avalanche 2". cbssports.com. April 5, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  21. ^ "Cam Atkinson lifts Blue Jackets past Blackhawks". March 27, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  22. ^ Hedger, Brian (May 27, 2015). "Atkinson's hat trick lifts Blue Jackets by Blackhawks". NHL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  23. ^ "Cam Atkinson nets hat trick to lead Blue Jackets past Canadiens". cbc.ca. January 25, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  24. ^ "Cam Atkinson added to NHL All-Star Game roster". NHL.com. January 17, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  25. ^ Clinton, Jared (January 10, 2017). "NHL ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS, AND THERE ARE A FEW SNUBS AND SURPRISES". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  26. ^ "Blue Jackets sign Cam Atkinson to a seven-year contract extension". NHL.com. Columbus, OH: Columbus Blue Jackets. November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  27. ^ Kimelman, Adam (March 15, 2018). "Blue Jackets hang on to defeat Flyers, gain in Metropolitan". NHL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  28. ^ Carchidi, Sam (March 15, 2018). "Flyers' recent collapse continues in loss to Columbus". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  29. ^ "Flyers acquire forward Cam Atkinson for Jakub Voracek". Philadelphia Flyers. July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  30. ^ "Cam Atkinson Gets Emotional and Finally Reveals The Injury That's Held Him Back All Year". Flyers Insider. April 14, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  31. ^ "Flyers to Buy Out Final Year of Cam Atkinson's Contract". Philadelphia Flyers. June 28, 2024.
  32. ^ "Lightning sign F Cam Atkinson to a one-year contract". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  33. ^ "Cam Atkinson Profile". The Hockey News.
  34. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  35. ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 277. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
  36. ^ "Hockey East First-Team All-Stars". Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  37. ^ "Hockey East Announces 2010–2011 All-Star Teams". Hockey East Online. Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  38. ^ "2013–14 Hockey East Media Guide". Hockey East. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  39. ^ "Hockey East Tournament 2011: Boston College Defends Title, Wins 5–3 Over Merrimack". SB Nation Boston. March 19, 2011.
  40. ^ "CAM ATKINSON". TheAHL.com. AHL. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  41. ^ "Cam Atkinson named to NHL All-Star roster". NHL.com. Columbus, OH: Columbus Blue Jackets. January 26, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by William Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player
2011 		Succeeded by