Nathan Paetsch

Nathan Paetsch (born March 30, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Nathan Paetsch
Paetsch with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2017
Born (1983-03-30) March 30, 1983
Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Draft 52nd overall, 2001
Washington Capitals
202nd overall, 2003
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2003–2020

Playing career

Paetsch was originally drafted in the 2nd round, 52nd overall, in 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. However, the Capitals were unable to reach a contract agreement with him, so he was put back into the draft in 2003. Paetsch was re-drafted in the seventh round, 202nd overall, by the Sabres in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Paetsch stepped into full-time WHL duty with the Moose Jaw Warriors as a 16-year-old in 1999. Paetsch was named Moose Jaw's defenceman of the year and playoff MVP after the 2000–01 season. Paetsch has also played in several national tournaments, including the 2000 Under-17 Championships and the 2000 Under-18 Four Nations Cup. In addition, he played for Team Cherry in the 2001 CHL Top Prospects Game.

Paetsch played his first professional season in 2003–04 with the Sabres AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

During the 2005–06 season, Paetsch played his first NHL game on January 7, 2006, for the Sabres and he recorded his first NHL point.[1] Paetsch was then returned to the Americans, for the remainder of the season. Due to a plethora of injuries to defensemen during the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he was recalled to the Sabres and made his NHL playoff debut in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes.

After re-signing to a one-year contract on July 14, 2005,[2] Paetsch established himself with the Sabres in 2006–07, playing in a career high 63 games, recording 24 points.

On July 31, 2007, Paetsch was re-signed to a three-year contract with the Sabres.[3]

During the 2009–10 season, Paetsch was limited to a reserve defenseman with the Sabres. On January 4, 2010, Paetsch was placed, and later cleared, on waivers from the Sabres.[4] After 11 games with the Sabres, Paetsch was traded, along with a second round draft pick, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Raffi Torres on March 3, 2010.[5]

On July 7, 2010, Paetsch signed with the Florida Panthers for one year on a one-way contract worth $525,000. Not making the Panthers' squad, he was waived to the Panthers' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. On October 7, his one-way contract was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Sean Zimmerman, on a two-way contract. The Canucks then loaned Paetsch and Andrew Peters back to the Americans. On November 1, Paetsch and Peters were removed from the Amerks roster due to curfew violations, with Paetsch moving to the Syracuse Crunch and Peters ultimately retiring.[6]

On June 21, 2011, Paetsch left the NHL to sign a one-year contract in Europe for the 2011–12 season, with EHC Wolfsburg of the German DEL.[7]

On July 9, 2012, Paetsch signed a one-year AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins for the 2012–13 season. Paetsch won the Calder Cup with the Griffins in 2013. On July 9, 2013, Paetsch re-signed a two-year AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins through the 2014–15 season.[8]

During the 2014–15 season, Paetsch eight goals and 30 assists, in 75 games. His 30 assists ranked second on the team, and his 38 points tied for fifth overall on the team and 12th among all AHL defensemen, marking his highest-scoring season since 2005–06 with Rochester.

On July 6, 2015, Paetsch signed a two-year AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins.[9]

After leading the Griffins as captain to their second Calder Cup in the 2016–17 season, before leaving as a free agent after five years with the club. On September 12, 2017, he opted to continue in the AHL in signing a one-year contract in a return to the Rochester Americans.[10]

Paetsch announced his retirement after 17 professional seasons in December 2020.[11]

Personal

Paetsch grew up in a town called Leroy, Saskatchewan, but was born in Humboldt since it was the nearest town with a hospital. Paetsch and his wife maintain a home in Spencerport, New York, a suburb of Rochester.[6]

Paetsch has been convicted of gambling-related charges.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1999–00 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 68 9 35 44 49 4 0 1 1 0
2000–01 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 70 8 54 62 118 4 1 2 3 6
2001–02 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 59 16 36 52 86 12 0 4 4 16
2002–03 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 59 15 39 54 81 13 3 10 13 6
2003–04 Rochester Americans AHL 54 5 5 10 49 16 1 1 2 28
2004–05 Rochester Americans AHL 80 4 19 23 150 9 1 1 2 16
2005–06 Rochester Americans AHL 72 11 39 50 90 — — — — —
2005–06 Buffalo Sabres NHL 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Buffalo Sabres NHL 63 2 22 24 50 — — — — —
2007–08 Buffalo Sabres NHL 59 2 7 9 27 — — — — —
2008–09 Buffalo Sabres NHL 23 2 4 6 25 — — — — —
2009–10 Buffalo Sabres NHL 11 1 1 2 6 — — — — —
2009–10 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 10 0 0 0 6 — — — — —
2010–11 Rochester Americans AHL 9 1 2 3 2 — — — — —
2010–11 Syracuse Crunch AHL 34 8 9 17 12 — — — — —
2011–12 EHC Wolfsburg DEL 52 7 18 25 46 2 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 70 4 27 31 32 24 0 11 11 21
2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 68 4 27 31 40 10 0 5 5 4
2014–15 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 75 8 30 38 42 16 0 4 4 2
2015–16 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 73 4 20 24 26 9 1 2 3 4
2016–17 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 73 1 17 18 30 19 2 5 7 8
2017–18 Rochester Americans AHL 22 0 9 9 16 1 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Rochester Americans AHL 11 1 2 3 2 — — — — —
2019–20 Rochester Americans AHL 10 1 1 2 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 167 7 35 42 114 1 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours
Award Year
WHL
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2001
East Second All-Star Team 2003
AHL
All-Star Game 2006 [13]
Calder Cup (Grand Rapids Griffins) 2013, 2017 [14][15]

References
  1. "Devils down Sabres, earn third consecutive victory". CBS Sports. January 7, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  2. "Pair accepts qualifying offers". Buffalo Sabres. July 14, 2005. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  3. "Sabres agree to terms with Nathan Paetsch". Buffalo Sabres. July 31, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  4. "Paetsch clears waivers". Buffalo Sabres. January 4, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  5. "Sabres acquires Torres, draft picks". Buffalo Sabres. March 3, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  6. Oklobzija, Kevin (November 2, 2010). "Florida Panthers reassign Rochester Amerks' Nathan Paetsch, Andrew Peters". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. Gannett Company. p. 1D. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  7. "EHC Wolfsburg commit to defender Nathan Paetsch" (in German). EHC Wolfsburg. June 21, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  8. Kujawa, Kyle (July 9, 2013). "Griffins re-sign Hoggan, Paetsch". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  9. "Hoggan and Paetsch re-sign, Grant returns". Grand Rapids Griffins. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  10. "Amerks agree to terms with Nathan Paetsch". Rochester Americans. September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  11. "Ex-Sabre, Amerks defenseman Nathan Paetsch retires". Buffalo News. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  12. Fairbanks, Phil (September 4, 2015). "Ex-Sabre Nathan Paetsch sentenced for role in gambling operation". The Buffalo News. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  13. "2006 AHL All-Star rosters". AHL. January 30, 2006. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  14. "Ain't It Grand". AHL. June 18, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  15. Wakiji, Dana (June 13, 2017). "Grand Rapids Griffins win Calder Cup at home". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
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