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Jeff Zatkoff

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Jeff Zatkoff
Zatkoff with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014
Born (1987-06-09) June 9, 1987 (age 37)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
Straubing Tigers
NHL draft 74th overall, 2006
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2008–2020

Jeff Zatkoff (born June 9, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He most recently played for the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Playing career

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As a youth, Zatkoff played in the 2001 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Little Caesars minor ice hockey team.[1]

College

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Zatkoff was drafted in the third round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, 74th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings after playing collegiately for the Miami University Redhawks. Zatkoff was named CCHA All-Conference Team honorable mention in 2006–07 as a sophomore. He was also named Rookie of the Year in 2005–06 as a freshman for the Redhawks, starting 20 games and helping lead the team to a regular-season CCHA Conference title.[2]

Professional

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Los Angeles Kings

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On April 10, 2008, Zatkoff signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Zatkoff was also signed to an amateur try-out agreement with the Ontario Reign on April 11, 2008. He made his professional debut with the Reign, appearing in 37 games during the 2008–09 season.[3] Zatkoff played for the Manchester Monarchs through the 2011–12 season.[citation needed]

Zatkoff with the Penguins during the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs

Pittsburgh Penguins

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Zatkoff signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2012.[4] On March 28, 2013, Zatkoff was recalled by Pittsburgh to be a backup for Tomas Vokoun for a game against the Winnipeg Jets due to a neck injury suffered by Marc-André Fleury.[5] Vokoun played the entire game and Zatkoff was returned to Wilkes-Barre the following day when doctors cleared Fleury to return.[6] Zatkoff and teammate Brad Thiessen were awarded with the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award at the conclusion of the 2012–13 AHL season. The Hap Holmes Award is given to the goaltender(s) who play at least 25 games for the team that allows the fewest goals against over the course of the season.[7]

Zatkoff was expected to spend the 2013–14 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. However, a blood clot suffered by Vokoun meant that Zatkoff started the season backing up Pittsburgh starter Marc-André Fleury. On October 11, 2013, Zatkoff made his NHL debut, making 24 saves in a 6–3 loss to the Florida Panthers.[8] His first NHL victory was a 3–0 shutout of the Blue Jackets in Columbus on November 2, 2013.[9]

On April 13, 2016, Zatkoff started Game 1 of the Penguins' first round series against the New York Rangers. Regular starter Marc-André Fleury was out with a concussion and backup Matt Murray was also in concussion protocol. Zatkoff made 35 saves on 37 shots and was named the game's second star, helping the Penguins to a 5–2 win.[10] After a loss in Game 2, Zatkoff was replaced by Murray, who remained in net for the rest of the playoffs despite Fleury's eventual return to the lineup. The Penguins eventually won the Stanley Cup on June 12, 2016, against the San Jose Sharks; the victory earned him a Stanley Cup ring, his name on the Cup and the nickname "Mr. Game One" among teammates and fans.[11]

Return to Los Angeles

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On July 1, 2016, Zatkoff ended his tenure with the Penguins, returning to the Kings on a one-year, two-way free agent contract.[12] Installed as the Kings backup for the 2016–17 season, Zatkoff struggled to find form and despite the loss of starting goaltender Jonathan Quick to long-term injury, he was surpassed on the depth chart and assigned to AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign after 13 games.[citation needed]

Columbus Blue Jackets

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Not having played a game past the midpoint of the 2016–17 season, on January 22, 2018, Zatkoff was traded by the Kings to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for future considerations. He was immediately assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.[13]

Europe

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As a free agent from the Blue Jackets in the following off-season, and with little NHL interest, Zatkoff opted to pursue a European career in signing a one-year contract with German club, the Straubing Tigers of the DEL, on July 6, 2018.[14]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Sweden

Zatkoff represented the United States at the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, held in Sweden, where his team earned a bronze medal.

Personal life

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Jeff is the great nephew of Roger Zatkoff, who played in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. His father, Jeff, was drafted by the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association after playing collegiately at Eastern Michigan, and attended high school at Chippewa Valley High School.

Career statistics

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With the Monarchs

Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2004–05 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 24 13 6 3 1,271 54 1 2.55 .914 2 0 0 67 10 0 8.88 .706
2005–06 Miami RedHawks CCHA 20 14 5 1 1,217 41 3 2.02 .928 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 Miami RedHawks CCHA 26 14 8 3 1,542 58 1 2.26 .919 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Miami RedHawks CCHA 36 27 8 1 2,161 62 3 1.72 .933 — — — — — — — —
2008–09 Ontario Reign ECHL 37 17 15 3 2,164 107 1 2.97 .915 7 3 3 418 26 0 3.73 .872
2008–09 Manchester Monarchs AHL 3 1 2 0 182 7 0 2.31 .918 — — — — — — — —
2009–10 Manchester Monarchs AHL 22 10 9 0 1,170 57 2 2.92 .915 — — — — — — — —
2010–11 Manchester Monarchs AHL 45 20 17 5 2,508 112 3 2.68 .911 5 1 3 253 16 0 3.80 .891
2011–12 Manchester Monarchs AHL 44 21 17 1 2,431 101 3 2.49 .920 2 0 2 97 7 0 4.34 .865
2012–13 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 49 26 20 0 2,799 90 5 1.93 .920 5 2 3 253 23 0 5.45 .838
2013–14 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 20 12 6 2 1,171 51 1 2.61 .912 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 37 18 14 4 2,155 88 3 2.45 .910 2 0 0 59 1 0 1.02 .958
2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 1 0 1 0 37 1 0 1.62 .941 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 14 4 7 1 732 34 0 2.79 .917 2 1 1 117 6 0 3.07 .908
2016–17 Los Angeles Kings NHL 13 2 7 1 551 27 0 2.95 .879 — — — — — — — —
2016–17 Ontario Reign AHL 8 2 3 3 458 23 0 3.01 .900 — — — — — — — —
2017–18 Cleveland Monsters AHL 17 4 9 2 912 49 2 3.22 .885 — — — — — — — —
2018–19 Straubing Tigers DEL 45 24 20 0 2,633 114 4 2.60 .910 2 0 2 127 7 0 3.00 .910
2019–20 Straubing Tigers DEL 30 22 6 0 1,696 68 1 2.41 .911 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 48 18 21 4 2,491 113 1 2.72 .908 2 1 1 117 6 0 3.07 .908

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-CCHA Second Team 2007–08 [15]
CCHA All-Tournament Team 2008 [16]
AHL
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award 2013
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2016 [17]

References

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  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "Zatkoff profile". muredhawks.cstv.com. January 2, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  3. ^ "Premier 'AA' Hockey League | Five debuts give ECHL 520 players to reach NHL". The Echl. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  4. ^ "Penguins Sign Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff and Forward Riley Holzapfel". July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  5. ^ "Penguins Recall Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff". March 28, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "Penguins Re-Assign Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton". March 29, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  7. ^ "Penguins pair win Hap Holmes award". American Hockey League. April 1, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  8. ^ "For Penguins' Zatkoff, disappointing debut". Trib Total Media. October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  9. ^ "Zatkoff wins 1st as Pens continue to roll". Trib Total Media. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  10. ^ "Patric Hornqvist lifts Penguins past Rangers with hat trick in opener". ESPN. April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  11. ^ "Pens present Zatkoff with his Stanley Cup ring". NHL.com. November 3, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "Jeff Zatkoff agrees to terms on a two-way contract". Los Angeles Kings. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "LA Kings Trade Jeff Zatkoff to Columbus Blue Jackets". NHL.com. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  14. ^ "Jeff Zatkoff - a Stanley Cup winner for Straubing Tigers" (in German). Straubing Tigers. July 6, 2018. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  15. ^ "All-CCHA Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  16. ^ "2012–13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  17. ^ "Pittsburgh Penguins - San Jose Sharks - June 12th, 2016". NHL.com. June 12, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by CCHA Best Goaltender
2007–08 		Succeeded by
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