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Derek Dorsett

Derek Dorsett
Dorsett with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010
Born (1986-12-20) December 20, 1986 (age 37)
Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Columbus Blue Jackets
New York Rangers
Vancouver Canucks
NHL draft 189th overall, 2006
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2007–2017

Derek Dorsett (born December 20, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Blue Jackets drafted him in 2006 in the seventh round, 189th overall. After nine years in the NHL, Dorsett retired after repeated injuries to his neck. He is currently the assistant to the head coach of the Upper Arlington ice hockey team. Dorsett was best known for his role similar to that of an enforcer.

Playing career

Junior

Dorsett played major junior ice hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and helped them win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions in 2006–07. Dorsett established himself as a gritty player with Medicine Hat, leading the team in penalty minutes in 2006–07 while finishing tied for second in team scoring with 64 points.

Professional

Columbus Blue Jackets

Dorsett was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets 189th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Graduating from major junior, he spent 2007–08 with the Syracuse Crunch, the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. He scored his first NHL goal the following season on October 21, 2008, against Roberto Luongo in a 4–2 win against the Vancouver Canucks.

New York Rangers

During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Dorsett was included in a trade deadline deal, along with Derick Brassard, John Moore and a sixth-round pick, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Marián Gáborík and minor league players Blake Parlett and Steven Delisle on April 3, 2013.[1]

Dorsett during his tenure with the Canucks in 2015.

Vancouver Canucks

On June 27, 2014, Dorsett was traded by the Rangers to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.[2] Upon joining the Canucks, he switched his jersey number to 51, as his usual 15 was being worn by teammate Brad Richardson. In the 2015 season, he posted career highs in both assists and points, and scored seven goals; his most since 2012 (including three game-winning goals). On April 8, 2015, the Canucks signed Dorsett to a four-year $10.6 million contract extension.[3] Following Richardson's departure from the team in the offseason, Dorsett changed his jersey number back to 15 for the 2015–16 season, where he led the league in penalty minutes with 177.

Injury and retirement

On December 5, 2016, the Canucks announced that Dorsett had herniated a cervical disc in his neck. The injury required surgery, sidelining him indefinitely. He had managed one goal and three assists in 14 games up to that point in the 2016–17 season.[4]

On November 30, 2017, Dorsett announced his retirement from the NHL.[5] This was simultaneously announced alongside news that he had again herniated a cervical disc in his neck, a separate injury from his previous one. He decided to end his career after learning this information, citing health reasons and risks associated with playing.

"I'm devastated by the news. It will take a long time for this to truly sink in. As hard as it was to hear, Dr. Watkins' diagnosis is definitive. There is no grey area, and it gives me clarity to move forward. I have a healthy young family and a long life of opportunities ahead of me. Hockey taught me a lot and it will help me be successful in whatever I choose to do in the future."

Playing only 20 games in the 2017–18 season, Dorsett managed to record seven goals and two assists, as well as 74 penalty minutes.[6]

Personal life

Dorsett and his wife, Allison, have three children together (two sons and one daughter). They also have a doodle.[7][8]

Career statistics

Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2003–04 Swift Current Legionnaires AAA SMHL 42 19 34 53 132
2004–05 Kindersley Klippers SJHL 25 12 8 20 172
2004–05 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 51 5 11 16 108 13 5 1 6 35
2005–06 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 68 25 23 48 279 13 4 8 12 53
2006–07 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 61 19 45 64 206 17 8 8 16 56
2007–08 Syracuse Crunch AHL 64 10 8 18 289 12 0 1 1 56
2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 52 4 1 5 150 3 0 0 0 2
2008–09 Syracuse Crunch AHL 7 1 5 6 35
2009–10 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 51 4 10 14 105
2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 76 4 13 17 184
2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 77 12 8 20 235
2012–13 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 4 0 1 1 25
2012–13 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 24 3 6 9 53
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 11 0 1 1 28
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 51 4 4 8 128 23 0 1 1 19
2014–15 Vancouver Canucks NHL 79 7 18 25 175 6 0 0 0 20
2015–16 Vancouver Canucks NHL 71 5 11 16 177
2016–17 Vancouver Canucks NHL 14 1 3 4 33
2017–18 Vancouver Canucks NHL 20 7 2 9 74
NHL totals 515 51 76 127 1,314 43 0 2 2 69

Awards and honours

Award Year
Vancouver Canucks
Fred J. Hume Award 2015, 2018

References

  1. ^ "Kekalainen injects life into Blue Jackets with Gaborik". National Hockey League. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  2. ^ Canucks, Vancouver (June 27, 2014). "Canucks acquire Derek Dorsett from Rangers". Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  3. ^ "Canucks sign Derek Dorsett, Luca Sbisa to contract extensions, making cap picture tighter next year | The Hockey News". www.thehockeynews.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  4. ^ "Derek Dorsett to Undergo Neck Surgery". Vancouver Canucks. December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  5. ^ "Dorsett retires from Canucks". NHL.com. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  6. ^ "Canucks confirm Dorsett will not return to active roster". NHL.com. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  7. ^ "Canucks Game Day: New dad Dorsett gets ready to face old teammates on Rangers". theprovince.com. December 13, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  8. ^ "Congrats to Derek Dorsett!". canucks.com. April 6, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2017.