BIOGRAPHY
Nick Blankenburg was born May 12, 1998, in Washington, Michigan. He began his collegiate career as a walk-on for the University of Michigan during the 2018–19 season. He scored his first collegiate goal on November 10, 2018, in a game against Notre Dame. He finished his freshman year with two goals and eight assists in 34 games. During the 2019–20 season in his sophomore year, he recorded four goals and 12 assists in 35 games. Following the season he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. On July 10, 2020, Blankenburg was named an alternate captain for the 2020–21 season. During his junior year, he recorded five goals and eight assists in 26 games. He ranked sixth in the Big Ten Conference in defenseman scoring with 13 points, and ranked third in the Big Ten, and tenth nationally, in plus–minus at +19. Following the season he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
On September 16, 2021, he was named team captain for the 2021–22 season. After being a walk-on for his first three years, Blankenburg was also awarded a scholarship for the 2021–22 season. During his senior year, he recorded a career-high 14 goals and 15 assists in 38 games. On November 26, he scored a goal and an assist in a 4–0 win over Niagara. The next day against Niagara he recorded two goals and an assist in a 4–1 win, for his second consecutive multi-point game. He was subsequently named the Big Ten First Star of the Week for the week ending November 30, after recording five points during the weekend series. His 14 goals tied the Michigan program record for goals in a single season by a senior defenseman. He ranked second among all NCAA defensemen in goals and power play goals. Following the season he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten, and a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. He also was awarded Michigan's Big Ten Medal of Honor. He finished his career at Michigan with 25 goals, 44 assists, a +52 with 10 power-play goals and three game-winning goals in 133 games.
On April 8, 2022, Blankenburg signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the remainder of the 2021–22 NHL season. He made his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets on April 13, 2022.[22][23] On April 24, in his sixth game, Blankenburg's first career NHL goal was the game-winning power play marker in a 5–2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. On July 15, 2022, Blankenburg signed a two-year, $1.65 million extension with the Blue Jackets.
On September 16, 2021, he was named team captain for the 2021–22 season. After being a walk-on for his first three years, Blankenburg was also awarded a scholarship for the 2021–22 season. During his senior year, he recorded a career-high 14 goals and 15 assists in 38 games. On November 26, he scored a goal and an assist in a 4–0 win over Niagara. The next day against Niagara he recorded two goals and an assist in a 4–1 win, for his second consecutive multi-point game. He was subsequently named the Big Ten First Star of the Week for the week ending November 30, after recording five points during the weekend series. His 14 goals tied the Michigan program record for goals in a single season by a senior defenseman. He ranked second among all NCAA defensemen in goals and power play goals. Following the season he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten, and a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. He also was awarded Michigan's Big Ten Medal of Honor. He finished his career at Michigan with 25 goals, 44 assists, a +52 with 10 power-play goals and three game-winning goals in 133 games.
On April 8, 2022, Blankenburg signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the remainder of the 2021–22 NHL season. He made his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets on April 13, 2022. On April 24, in his sixth game, Blankenburg's first career NHL goal was the game-winning power play marker in a 5–2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. On July 15, 2022, Blankenburg signed a two-year, $1.65 million extension with the Blue Jackets.
