Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell announced Wednesday that the club will sign forward Cam Atkinson to a one-day contract that will allow him to officially retire from the NHL as a member of the Blue Jackets. The club will honor Atkinson prior to its game against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, October 16.

Atkinson, 36, spent his first 10 NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2011-21, registering 213 goals and 189 assists in 627 games. He is among the franchise’s all-time leaders in numerous statistical categories, ranking second in points, goals, game-winning goals, and shots on goal.

He also represented the Blue Jackets at two NHL All-Star Games in 2017 and 2019 and was named to the Blue Jackets’ Quarter-Century Team.

The 5-8, 178-pound right wing collected the most hat tricks in franchise history with six. He is also the club’s all-time leader in goals, assists, and points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as he tallied 10-16-26 in 35 career postseason games as a Blue Jacket.

The Riverside, Connecticut native was selected by the Blue Jackets in the sixth round, 157th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft. He played three seasons at Boston College, where he was a first team All-American, Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist, and won a national championship.

He made his NHL debut on Oct. 7, 2011 vs. Nashville and went on to register 253-236-489 and 194 penalty minutes in 809 career games with the Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning.