Jesse Blacker (Kazakh: Джесси Блэкер, Djessi Bleker; born April 19, 1991) is a Canadian-Kazakh professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently under contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Blacker was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round (58th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in only one game in the National Hockey League (NHL), which was in 2014 for the Anaheim Ducks.

Jesse Blacker
Blacker with the Texas Stars during the 2015-16 season
Born (1991-04-19) April 19, 1991 (age 33)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
KHL team
Former teams
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Anaheim Ducks
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
Kunlun Red Star
Barys Nur-Sultan
National team  Kazakhstan
NHL Draft 58th overall, 2009
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2010–present

Playing career edit

Blacker started his junior career with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL, winning the 2009 Memorial Cup.[1] After finishing his junior season with Owen Sound in 2010, he was signed to a three-year entry level contract with Toronto Maple Leafs, and played professionally with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.[2]

On November 16, 2013, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks along with a conditional third-round draft pick and the Ducks original seventh-round pick (which was previously traded to Toronto) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz.[3]

In the 2014–15 season, on November 28, 2014, Blacker was recalled by the Ducks made his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks.[4] After one game with the Ducks, Blacker was traded to the Florida Panthers along with a conditional draft pick in exchange for Colby Robak on December 4, 2014.[5]

In the off-season, Blacker was released to free agency by the Panthers after he failed to be tendered a qualifying offer. On July 7, 2015, unable to attain an NHL offer, Blacker signed a one-year AHL contract with the Texas Stars.[6]

Following the 2015–16 campaign with the Stars, he opted to continue his career overseas, signing with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the German top-tier Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) on April 28, 2016.[7] After one year in Germany, Blacker headed to China, inking a deal with KHL side HC Kunlun Red Star in June 2017.[8] In his debut season in the KHL in 2017–18, Blacker registered 9 points in 49 games for the blueline.

Having concluded his contract with Kunlun, Blacker remained in the KHL signing as a free agent with Barys Astana on August 7, 2018.[9]

Blacker played three productive seasons with Barys Nur-Sultan, gaining Kazakhstani citizenship during his tenure, before leaving the club as a free agent in securing a two-year contract in continue in the KHL with Avtmobilist Yekaterinburg on May 6, 2021.[10]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 Windsor Spitfires OHL 17 0 4 4 6 5 0 1 1 2
2008–09 Windsor Spitfires OHL 67 4 17 21 54 20 0 4 4 18
2009–10 Windsor Spitfires OHL 9 0 3 3 12
2009–10 Owen Sound Attack OHL 48 6 24 30 62
2009–10 Toronto Marlies AHL 6 0 1 1 0
2010–11 Owen Sound Attack OHL 62 10 44 54 83 22 5 6 11 14
2011–12 Toronto Marlies AHL 58 1 15 16 73 6 0 1 1 4
2012–13 Toronto Marlies AHL 61 4 7 11 33 4 0 1 1 0
2013–14 Toronto Marlies AHL 5 1 0 1 4
2013–14 Norfolk Admirals AHL 50 5 19 24 19 10 1 0 1 10
2014–15 Norfolk Admirals AHL 15 0 5 5 9
2014–15 Anaheim Ducks NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 San Antonio Rampage AHL 40 6 12 18 24 2 0 1 1 2
2015–16 Texas Stars AHL 45 1 8 9 28 1 0 1 1 0
2016–17 Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers DEL 46 8 26 34 67 13 2 3 5 6
2017–18 Kunlun Red Star KHL 49 1 8 9 26
2018–19 Barys Astana KHL 54 3 16 19 30 10 1 4 5 8
2019–20 Barys Nur-Sultan KHL 55 2 18 20 56 5 0 0 0 0
2020–21 Barys Nur-Sultan KHL 45 3 7 10 13 5 1 0 1 8
2021–22 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHL 42 5 19 24 20
2022–23 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHL 51 4 7 11 22 7 0 1 1 2
2023–24 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHL 50 4 10 14 24 15 1 1 2 6
NHL totals 1 0 0 0 0
KHL totals 346 22 85 107 191 42 3 6 9 24

International edit

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2020 Kazakhstan OGQ DNQ 3 1 0 1 0
2021 Kazakhstan WC 10th 7 1 1 2 2
2022 Kazakhstan WC 14th 7 1 4 5 4
Senior totals 17 3 5 8 6

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Blacker, Jesse". National Hockey League. October 1, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  2. ^ "Leafs Sign Jesse Blacker". Toronto Maple Leafs. April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  3. ^ "Ducks send Holland, Staubitz to Maple Leafs for Jesse Blacker". Sports Illustrated. November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  4. ^ "Kane, Blackhawks defeat shorthanded Ducks". National Hockey League. November 28, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  5. ^ "Panthers acquire Blacker". American Hockey League. December 4, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  6. ^ "Rallo, Hulak and Mangene return to Texas, add two more". Texas Stars. July 7, 2015. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  7. ^ "Defender Jesse Blacker strengthens Ice Tigers blueline" (in German). Nürnberg Ice Tigers. April 28, 2016. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  8. ^ "Второй сезон не за горами. Контуры новой команды". hcredstar.ru (in Russian). Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  9. ^ "Jesse Blacker signs with Barys" (in Russian). Barys Astana. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  10. ^ "Avtomobilist sign contract with Jesse Blacker" (in Russian). Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.

External links edit