Columbus Blue Jackets add Aaron Dell, Nicolas Meloche on PTOs

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed goaltender Aaron Dell and defenseman Nicolas Meloche to professional tryout deals for 2023-24.

Dell, 34, has 130 games of NHL experience over eight seasons. With a 50-50-13 record and five shutouts, Dell has been a backup throughout his career, setting a career-high of 33 games played with San Jose in 2019-20.

After a three-year NCAA career with North Dakota, Dell eventually made his NHL debut with the Sharks in 2016-17, posting a .931 save percentage through 20 games. Dell was a solid backup behind Martin Jones, but his play eventually started to fall in 2018-19. He landed with New Jersey during the COVID-impacted season in 2020-21 before playing in Buffalo the following year. Dell would return to San Jose in 2022-23, but lost all three of his starts.

Meloche, 26, was drafted 40th overall by the Colorado Avalanche. He has 57 games played to his credit, scoring two goals and eight points. The 6-foot-3 blueliner spent 2022-23 with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, scoring four goals and 21 points.

The Blue Jackets also signed Nate Schnarr to a tryout deal on Tuesday, giving the team some extra depth heading into training camp.