Mike Blunden

Michael Charles Blunden (born December 15, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Over his professional career, Blunden has appeared in over 100 National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks.

Mike Blunden
Blunden with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2009
Born (1986-12-15) December 15, 1986
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
Montreal Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning
Ottawa Senators
HC Bolzano
Schwenninger Wild Wings
NHL Draft 43rd overall, 2005
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2006–2020

Playing career

Blunden was drafted 43rd overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks from the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. After his final year with the Otters, Blunden signed a three-year entry level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on May 24, 2006.[1] Months prior to signing he made his professional debut with affiliate of the Blackhawks, the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL, for the 2005–06 playoff run.

Blunden made his NHL debut in the 2006–07 season with the Blackhawks playing in 9 games. His season was cut short when he suffered a shoulder injury on December 10, 2006, ruling him out for the rest of the season.[2]

On January 10, 2009, Blunden was traded by the Blackhawks to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Adam Pineault.[3]

On July 7, 2011 he was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Montreal Canadiens, in exchange for Ryan Russell.[4] On July 1, 2012, the Canadiens re-signed Blunden to a one-year, two-way contract extension.

On July 1, 2014, Blunden left the Canadiens organization to sign a one-year contract as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[5]

On June 29, 2015, the Lightning announced the re-signing of Blunden to a one-year, two-way contract. Blunden appeared in two regular season games with the Lightning last season, recording two penalty minutes. He also played in 33 games with the Syracuse Crunch, recording 13 goals and 22 points.[6]

After two-years in the Lightning organization, Blunden left as a free agent to sign a two-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators on July 1, 2016.[7] After starting the season with Binghamton, Blunden made his Ottawa Senators debut on November 9, 2016 against the Buffalo Sabres.

After completing his contract with the Senators, Blunden left North America as a free agent after 13 years and signed a one-year deal with Italian outfit, HCB South Tyrol of the EBEL on July 18, 2018.[8] Blunden contributed offensively with Bolzano, posting 33 points in 38 regular season games.

Following Bolzano's defeat in the playoffs, Blunden left as a free agent to sign in the neighbouring DEL, agreeing to a one-year contract with German club, Schwenninger Wild Wings on April 3, 2019.[9]

Personal

Blunden was born on December 15, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has one sister, Jennifer Blunden, and two brothers, Stephen Blunden & Sean Blunden, both of whom are also hockey players with Stephen enjoying his time in Canberra, Australia with the CBR Brave in the AIHL and Sean playing in the CIS for the Concordia University team, Concordia Stingers.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Gloucester Rangers CJHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2002–03 Erie Otters OHL 63 10 7 17 55 — — — — —
2003–04 Erie Otters OHL 52 22 17 39 53 3 0 0 0 0
2004–05 Erie Otters OHL 61 22 19 41 75 2 0 0 0 2
2005–06 Erie Otters OHL 60 46 38 84 63 — — — — —
2005–06 Norfolk Admirals AHL 11 1 5 6 2 1 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Norfolk Admirals AHL 17 4 5 9 15 — — — — —
2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 9 0 0 0 10 — — — — —
2007–08 Rockford IceHogs AHL 74 16 21 37 83 12 1 3 4 35
2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2008–09 Rockford IceHogs AHL 37 3 7 10 42 — — — — —
2008–09 Syracuse Crunch AHL 39 9 12 21 68 — — — — —
2009–10 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 40 2 2 4 59 — — — — —
2009–10 Syracuse Crunch AHL 25 7 9 16 43 — — — — —
2010–11 Springfield Falcons AHL 37 12 9 21 41 — — — — —
2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2011–12 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 17 3 5 8 12 — — — — —
2011–12 Montreal Canadiens NHL 39 2 2 4 27 — — — — —
2012–13 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 54 10 12 22 76 — — — — —
2012–13 Montreal Canadiens NHL 5 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 10
2013–14 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 68 18 19 37 79 — — — — —
2013–14 Montreal Canadiens NHL 7 0 0 0 5 — — — — —
2014–15 Syracuse Crunch AHL 33 13 9 22 28 — — — — —
2014–15 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2015–16 Syracuse Crunch AHL 49 21 17 38 68 — — — — —
2015–16 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 20 3 2 5 34 7 0 0 0 4
2016–17 Binghamton Senators AHL 67 14 15 29 57 — — — — —
2016–17 Ottawa Senators NHL 2 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2017–18 Belleville Senators AHL 45 6 10 16 95 — — — — —
2017–18 Ottawa Senators NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2018–19 HC Bolzano AUT 38 16 17 33 32 5 2 3 5 33
2019–20 Schwenninger Wild Wings DEL 49 13 10 23 36 — — — — —
AHL totals 573 137 155 292 709 13 1 3 4 35
NHL totals 127 7 6 13 145 8 0 0 0 14

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2003 Canada U18 4th 5 1 1 2 8
2006 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 2 3 5 8
Junior totals 11 3 4 7 16

References
  1. "Blackhawks sign Michael Blunden". hockeysfuture.com. May 24, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  2. "Icehogs news". icehogs.com. December 26, 2007. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  3. "Blue Jackets trade Pineault for Blackhawks' Blunden". cbssportsline.com. January 10, 2009. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  4. "Habs acquire Michael Blunden from Columbus in return for Ryan Russell". Montreal Canadiens. July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  5. "Lightning sign forward Mike Blunden". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  6. Tampa Bay, Lightning (June 29, 2015). "Lightning Sign Mike Blunden to One-Year Contract". Tampa Bay Lightning. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  7. "Senators sign forward Michael Blunden to two-year contract". Ottawa Senators. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. "Ex-NHL player Mike Blunden joins the Foxes" (in Italian). HC Bolzano. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  9. "Wild Wings sign Mike Blunden" (in German). Schwenninger Wild Wings. April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
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