Atkinson to retire as Blue Jacket after 14-year NHL career

Cam Atkinson will sign a one-day contract Oct. 16 to retire as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team announced Wednesday.

Atkinson played the first 10 seasons of his career in Columbus. He racked up 213 goals and 402 points in 627 games as a Blue Jacket to rank second in franchise history in goals and points behind Rick Nash. Atkinson is Columbus' all-time playoff scoring leader with 10 goals and 26 points in 35 postseason contests.

The 36-year-old tallied four goals and nine points in 39 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Atkinson notched a career-best 41 goals and 69 points in the 2018-19 campaign with Columbus. He eclipsed the 20-goal mark in seven seasons - six as a Blue Jacket, and once with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 5-foot-8 winger finishes his NHL career with 253 goals and 489 points in 809 games with the Blue Jackets, Flyers, and Lightning.

Columbus drafted Atkinson in the sixth round, 157th overall, in 2008. He ranks fourth in goals from that draft class, bested only by Steven Stamkos, Jordan Eberle, and Adam Henrique.