Aaron Dell
Birth dateMay 4, 1989 (age 37)
Birth placeAirdrie, Alberta, Canada
Height6 ft
Height in0
Weight lb213
PositionGoaltender
CatchesLeft
Played forSan Jose Sharks
New Jersey Devils
Buffalo Sabres
DraftUndrafted
Career start2012
Career end2025

Aaron Dell (born May 4, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.[1] Originally undrafted, Dell has played seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), mainly for the San Jose Sharks, and shorter stints for the New Jersey Devils and the Buffalo Sabres before retiring in 2025.[2]

Playing career

Dell played collegiate hockey at the University of North Dakota. Dell returned to the Allen Americans in trade from the Utah Grizzlies on October 11, 2014.[3] While with the Worcester Sharks, on March 1, 2015, Dell was signed to a one-year entry-level contract with the team's NHL affiliate, the San Jose Sharks, for the remainder of the season.[4]

In the 2016–17 season, Dell made the Sharks' opening night roster as the team's backup goaltender to Martin Jones. On October 18, 2016, Dell made his NHL debut and won against the New York Islanders.[5] On February 28, 2018, Dell signed a two-year contract extension with the Sharks.[6]

On October 13, 2020, Dell signed a one-year $800,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent.[7] After attending the Maple Leafs training camp for the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Dell was included in the team's taxi squad. On January 18, 2021, Dell's brief tenure with the Maple Leafs ended as he was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils.[8]

On July 28, 2021, Dell signed as a free agent to a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[9] On September 13, Buffalo announced that Dell will wear jersey no. 30, a move that upset many fans as the number had not been issued since Ryan Miller's departure from the team in 2014.[10]

On January 25, 2022, during a game against the Ottawa Senators, Dell delivered an unprovoked hit to forward Drake Batherson, causing an ankle injury; as a result, Batherson was ruled out for the 2022 NHL All-Star Game which he was supposed to attend.[11] The following day, Dell was suspended three games for the hit, officially ruled as interference.[12]

As a free agent from the Sabres, Dell returned to his original club, the San Jose Sharks, after agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract on July 13, 2022.[13]

Dell signed a professional tryout deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in August 2023.[14] He was released from his PTO on October 5.[15] In December, Dell signed a professional tryout deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.[16] He was later released by the Hurricanes without a contract and later signed an AHL contract for the remainder of the season with the Ontario Reign, primary affiliate to the Los Angeles Kings, on January 6, 2024.[17] Dell made 5 appearances with the Reign before securing a one-year, two-way contract for the remainder of the season with the Kings on March 5, 2024.[18]

On September 4, 2025, Dell announced his retirement from professional hockey.[19]

Records

  • 2010–11: Holds UND school record for most wins in a season (30), surpassing previous record holder Ed Belfour (29)[20]
  • 2014–15: Holds Worcester Sharks record for GAA at 2.06 and SAV%.927 and tied with Alex Stalock with four shutouts.

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2006–07Airdrie ThunderHJHL363123—————————————
2007–08Calgary CanucksAJHL23511212456503.13.891————————
2008–09Calgary CanucksAJHL5125178298612632.53.9234132531303.08.913
2009–10U. of North DakotaWCHA5131199611.81.897————————
2010–11U. of North DakotaWCHA40307223497061.79.924————————
2011–12U. of North DakotaWCHA331810217998022.67.900————————
2012–13Allen AmericansCHL442211623449032.30.9161912710974512.46.915
2013–14Utah GrizzliesECHL29197317356222.14.920311188601.92.932
2013–14Abbotsford HeatAHL61202621002.29.922————————
2014–15Allen AmericansECHL128126763212.84.902————————
2014–15Worcester SharksAHL26158215445342.06.9273031491204.83.857
2015–16San Jose BarracudaAHL401716622819242.42.9224132311002.59.932
2016–17San Jose SharksNHL20116111153712.00.931————————
2017–18San Jose SharksNHL29155415236722.64.91420047202.55.929
2018–19San Jose SharksNHL25108413247023.17.88620190503.33.861
2019–20San Jose SharksNHL331215318359203.01.907————————
2020–21Binghamton DevilsAHL100165504.62.839————————
2020–21New Jersey DevilsNHL71503202204.14.857————————
2021–22Rochester AmericansAHL22127112596102.91.90910556273703.54.883
2021–22Buffalo SabresNHL121815663804.03.893————————
2022–23San Jose BarracudaAHL3815174206710823.14.898————————
2022–23San Jose SharksNHL4030200902.71.913————————
2023–24Ontario ReignAHL127417233112.57.914————————
2024–25Wichita ThunderECHL136617833802.91.914————————
2024–25San Jose BarracudaAHL103325793603.73.890————————
NHL totals1305050136,87433552.92.905401137703.08.891

Awards and honours

AwardYear
College
All-WCHA First Team2010–11[21]
NCAA goaltending title2010–11
AHCA West Second-Team All-American2010–11
WCHA All-Tournament Team2012[22]
WCHA Final Five tournament MVP2011–12
CHL
All-CHL Team (First Team All-Star)2012–13[23]
All-Rookie team2012–13
Most Outstanding Goaltender2012–13
Ray Miron President's Cup champion2012–13

References

  1. ^ "Dell Returning to Barracuda". American Hockey League. September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  2. ^ https://www.nhl.com/news/aaron-dell-retires-from-professional-hockey-played-7-seasons-in-nhl
  3. ^ "Americans trade for Goalie Aaron Dell". Allen Americans. October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  4. ^ "Aaron Dell player biography". The Hockey News. March 1, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  5. ^ Schlossman, Brad Elliott (October 18, 2016). "NHL: Aaron Dell wins NHL debut". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  6. ^ "Sharks Sign Goaltender Aaron Dell to a Two-Year Contract Extension". National Hockey League. February 28, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  7. ^ "Maple Leafs Sign Goaltender Aaron Dell". National Hockey League. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Devils claim Aaron Dell from waivers". New Jersey Devils. January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  9. ^ Ryndak, Chris (July 28, 2021). "Sabres, Dell agree to 1-year contract". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  10. ^ LeBlanc, Jacob (September 13, 2021). "Sabres fans will see a familiar jersey number in net this year". Sabre Noise. Fansided. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "Observations: Aaron Dell on hot seat for hit as Sabres are drubbed by Sens". Buffalo News. January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  12. ^ "Sabres goalie Dell suspended three games for interference on Senators' Batherson". Sportsnet. January 26, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  13. ^ "Sharks sign Goaltender Aaron Dell". San Jose Sharks. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  14. ^ Ellis, Steven (August 23, 2023). "Columbus Blue Jackets add Aaron Dell, Nicolas Meloche on PTOs". Calgary Herald. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "Aaron Dell, ex-Americans & Grizzlies Goalie, Released from Blue Jackets Pro Tryout". October 5, 2023.
  16. ^ "Hurricanes bring in ex-Sharks G Dell on free-agent tryout". TSN. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "Reign sign goalie Dell to AHL contract". Ontario Reign. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "LA Kings sign Goaltender Aaron Dell". Los Angeles Kings. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "Dell retires from professional hockey, played 7 seasons in NHL". nhl.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  20. ^ Francis, Eric (January 13, 2017). "Francis: Aaron Dell's road from Airdrie to first Saddledome start reads like a hitchhiker's guide to the pros". Calgary Herald. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  21. ^ "Matt Frattin named top player in WCHA". Toronto Maple Leafs. May 1, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  22. ^ "WCHA Tourney History". WCHA. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  23. ^ "All-CHL team announced". minorhockeyreport.com. March 1, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.