Colin Blackwell Bio
Colin Blackwell is an American professional ice hockey center for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on March 28, 1993, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he grew up in nearby North Andover and developed into a steady two-way forward through years of junior, collegiate, and minor-league play. After a long path that included two concussions at Harvard, Blackwell worked his way to the NHL through the American Hockey League (AHL) and has since played for multiple franchises.
Colin Blackwell Early Life and Background
Colin Blackwell was born on March 28, 1993, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to parents Jim and Carla Blackwell. He was raised in North Andover, Massachusetts, where he began playing organized hockey as a child. From 2004 to 2010, he played minor hockey with the Valley Junior Warriors, gaining early experience in a competitive youth program in the region.
Blackwell played high school hockey at St. John’s Prep from 2007 to 2011. During the 2010–11 regular season, he recorded 26 goals and 24 assists for 50 points with a plus-42 rating. In the Division 1A tournament, he tallied 16 points in five games, finishing the year with 66 points in 25 games. His performance earned him the ESPN Boston Mr. Hockey Award as the top male high school player, and he was later inducted into the St. John’s Prep Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Path to Hockey
Prior to the 2011 NHL entry draft, Blackwell was ranked 173rd among North American skaters. On June 27, 2011, he was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round, 194th overall. The selection marked a major step in his path from Massachusetts youth hockey to the professional ranks.
Blackwell began his collegiate career with the Harvard Crimson of ECAC Hockey in 2011, making his debut on November 4 against Princeton and scoring his first goal on November 12 against Colgate. He was named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week in late November and finished his first season with five goals and 14 assists for 19 points. He was also named a semifinalist for the Walter Brown Award, given to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.
Colin Blackwell Career
Junior and Collegiate Career (2007–2016)
During the 2012–13 season, Blackwell was affected by two concussions four months apart, forcing him to miss most of the campaign. He also missed the entirety of the 2013–14 season. After missing 26 of 31 games of the 2014–15 season, he returned in late February 2015 and helped Harvard win the ECAC Tournament with a goal against Colgate on March 21.
Near the beginning of the 2015–16 season, Blackwell was cleared to play the full year. He recorded six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 28 games, matching his career high from his first year. The New England Hockey Writers named him the recipient of the Joe Tomasello Unsung Hero Award for his perseverance and consistent play.
Professional Career Beginnings (2016–2018)
Following his final season at Harvard, Blackwell joined the San Jose Sharks organization. He was reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL, making his debut on October 15, 2016, against the Stockton Heat. He scored his first professional goal on November 25, 2016, in a 4–1 win over the Bakersfield Condors, finishing 2016–17 with 11 points in 57 games and three goals in 15 Calder Cup playoff games.
As a free agent, Blackwell joined the Buffalo Sabres organization for 2017–18, signing a professional tryout offer with the Rochester Americans on October 5, 2017. He produced 17 goals and 45 points in 61 games, leading all Americans forwards in scoring, and added three points in three Calder Cup playoff games. On July 3, 2018, he signed his first NHL contract, a two-year entry-level deal with the Nashville Predators.
Nashville Predators Era (2018–2020)
Blackwell began 2018–19 with the Milwaukee Admirals before earning his first NHL call-up on January 19, 2019. He made his NHL debut the same day in a 4–2 loss to the Florida Panthers, playing on the fourth line. He split the rest of the season between the two clubs, finishing with 14 goals and 12 assists in 43 AHL games and one goal in five Calder Cup playoff games.
During the 2019–20 season, Blackwell recorded his first NHL point, an assist, on December 23, 2019, against the Arizona Coyotes. On January 9, 2020, he scored his first NHL goal in a 5–2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, the same game in which goaltender Pekka Rinne also scored. He finished the year with three goals and seven assists in 27 NHL games for the Predators.
New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken Era (2020–2022)
On October 9, 2020, Blackwell signed a two-year contract with the New York Rangers. He made his Rangers debut on January 24, 2021, against the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored his first goal with the team in a 3–2 loss. On his 28th birthday, March 28, 2021, he scored a career-high two goals against the Washington Capitals, finishing the season with 12 goals and 22 points in 47 games.
Blackwell was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft and scored his first Kraken goal on November 19, 2021, in a 7–3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. On March 20, 2022, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs alongside Mark Giordano, where he scored his first Stanley Cup playoff goal on May 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, finishing with two points in seven playoff games.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2022–2024)
On July 13, 2022, Blackwell signed a two-year, $2.4 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2022–23, he appeared in 53 games with two goals and eight assists before a season-ending sports hernia on March 23, 2023. In 2023–24, he was activated on December 19 and was later named Chicago’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which honors perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. He finished with eight goals and four assists in 44 games.
Dallas Stars Era (2024–Present)
On July 2, 2024, Blackwell signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Dallas Stars. During the 2024–25 regular season, he recorded six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 63 games. In the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he scored the overtime game-winning goal against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the first round on April 21, 2025, his only point in 11 playoff games. On July 1, 2025, the Stars re-signed him to a two-year contract worth $775,000 annually.
Driving Style and Strengths
Blackwell is recognized for his strong skating, compact 5-foot-8 frame, and responsible two-way play. He uses a quick, north-south style, forechecks effectively, and is trusted in matchup and penalty-kill situations. His shot and finishing improved steadily through the AHL, and his coaches have praised his work ethic and consistency on the fourth line and bottom-six.
Notable Events and Milestones
Blackwell’s career is defined by perseverance. He overcame two concussions at Harvard to reach the NHL, scored his first NHL goal in the same game as Pekka Rinne, and netted a Stanley Cup playoff debut goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His overtime winner for the Dallas Stars in the 2025 playoffs and his nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy further highlight his resilience and grit.
Colin Blackwell Career Wins
Blackwell has built a journeyman professional career with steady contributions at center across the AHL and NHL, including a bronze medal with the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. He has scored his share of regular-season and playoff goals for the Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Seattle Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, and Dallas Stars.
NHL Highlights
Blackwell recorded his first NHL goal on January 9, 2020, with the Nashville Predators. His most recent verified notable win was the overtime game-winning goal for the Dallas Stars against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 21, 2025. He has appeared in NHL playoff games with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Dallas Stars.
Other Wins and Performances
At the international level, Blackwell served as an alternate captain for the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, scoring four goals in 10 games and helping the team win a bronze medal. He also won the ECAC Tournament with Harvard in 2015 and was a Calder Cup playoff participant in multiple AHL seasons.
Colin Blackwell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Colin Blackwell was raised by his father, Jim Blackwell, and his mother, Carla Blackwell, in North Andover, Massachusetts. Both parents supported his early hockey development in the local youth system.
Personal Life
Blackwell is an American citizen who has spent much of his professional career moving between NHL cities while continuing to build his profile as a reliable depth forward. Public information about his marital status and children is not available in the verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024–25 regular season, Colin Blackwell appeared in 63 games for the Dallas Stars, posting six goals and 11 assists for 17 points as a depth center. His consistent bottom-six play helped the Stars qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In the 2025 postseason, Blackwell played in 11 games and produced one highlight moment: the overtime game-winning goal against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the first round on April 21, 2025. It was his only point of the playoffs, but it underscored his value in a checking role.
Following the season, the Stars re-signed Blackwell on July 1, 2025, to a two-year contract worth $775,000 annually, signaling continued trust in his two-way game and locker-room presence as the franchise pushes deeper into the playoffs.
