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Former Vancouver Canucks Player Unexpectedly Retires at Young Age of 35

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 3:12 PM ET

A former member of the Vancouver Canucks has suddenly and unexpectedly bid farewell to the NHL, as this 35-year-old has officially retired.

Veteran forward and former Vancouver Canuck Zac Dalpe has made it official, retiring after a 16-year playing career, spreading the word in an open letter on the Charlotte Checkers' website.

'Pulling that Checkers sweater over my head and walking through the redline club on the way out to the bright lights will always be stapled in my head,' Dalpe said in his letter. 'It started here and now it shall end here. I'm proud of what I got to do, but more importantly, I'm so proud of who I got to do it with. I appreciate every single person that was along for the greatest ride of my life. A Canadian kid got to be a hockey player for 15 years.'
- Zac Dalpe

Dalpe, 35, was a second-round pick (45th overall) of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2008 and saw parts of 12 NHL seasons.

He played 168 regular-season NHL games with 16 goals and 32 points for the Hurricanes, Canucks, Sabres, Wild, Blue Jackets, and Panthers.

Dalpe was part of the Panthers Stanley Cup Finals run in 2023

He also suited up for 16 postseason games, including 13 during the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2023.

Despite his limited NHL tenure, Dalpe had great success in the AHL, particularly for the Charlotte Checkers, where he played 362 games and served as captain for four seasons.

He is third all-time in franchise history in goals (131) and accumulated 238 points there during his first stint with the Hurricanes and the remaining seasons that he spent playing out a contract with the Panthers.

In total, Dalpe recorded 220 goals and 392 points in 574 games in the AHL, making him one of just a handful of players to play in the league for 16 years. He was a two-time AHL All-Star and an All-Rookie Team selection in 2010-11.

Before turning pro, Dalpe topped Ohio State University in scoring with 70 points in two years of action in 76 games and was a CCHA First Team All-Star as a sophomore. Best of luck to Zac Dalpe in retirement, and congrats on a good career.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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