Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito is bringing in another player that he is very familiar with, signing Zac Dalpe to a two-year, two-way contract. The 31-year-old forward was an unrestricted free agent.
When Zito was with the Columbus Blue Jackets, severing as GM of the AHL affiliate, Dalpe was his star. The minor league forward recorded 55 points in 55 games during the 2018-19 season with Cleveland, earning a place at the AHL All-Star Game. The next season, he returned as captain of the team under Zito’s management and added another 11 points in 18 games.
This season, after Zito moved on to Florida, Dalpe was still captain of the Monsters, but bounced back and forth between the AHL, NHL and taxi squad all season. He ended up playing more for Columbus than Cleveland, suiting up 12 times in the NHL and recording three points. Joining the Panthers organization now, Dalpe will likely serve as that same injury replacement at the NHL level but help the Charlotte Checkers tremendously as a leader and veteran forward. The two-year deal gives him some career stability, something that minor league veterans rarely find.
Not Springfield Thunderbird but Charlotte Checkers!
It’s been a long week. Thanks, fixed.
@Gavin – Didn’t you get those Kevlar gloves we emailed to you guys for this week’s flurry? :)
P.S. You all did a great job, covering the record one billion transactions this month! Not an easy task! Tip of the JOFA!
He spent three years in Charlotte in his early twenties. Cool for the fans who saw him ten years ago
Can’t wait to see him again!