At the 2015 NHL Draft, the Ottawa Senators hit on Thomas Chabot with the 18th overall pick in the draft. However, the Senators had one more first-round selection in the draft.
With the 21st selection, the Senators selected Colin White. In the 2018-19 season, both Chabot and White broke out big for the Senators. Chabot recorded a 55-point season and White recorded a 41-point season. Both Chabot and White appeared to be part of Ottawa for many seasons to come.
After his break out season, White signed a six-year, $28.5 million contract ($4.75 million AAV) in August 2019. However, White's fall was one that not many saw coming, and today White's production has fallen, but did get late confidence.
White played in three NHL games during 2024-25 season
White's fall started in the first season after his new contract. White went from recording 41 points in the 2018-19 season to recording a 23-point season in the 2019-20 season.
In the 2020-21 season, White recorded an 18-point season. In the 2021-22 season, White recorded 10 points in 24 games. After the 2021-22 season, White was bought out of his contract by the Senators. White's buyout won't end until the 2027-28 season.
After being bought out by the Senators, White was part of the Florida Panthers' 2022-23 Eastern Conference championship team. White recorded 15 points during the course of the regular season. After the Panthers fell in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, White spent the 2023-24 season as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens.
White didn't see any NHL action this season until Winter. This past January, White signed a one-year, $850,000 contract to have a chance to play for the San Jose Sharks. However, White's tenure with the Sharks was a rough one. White played in just three games and went pointless in all three games before sustaining an injury.
White was then assigned to the Sharks' AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. In 25 AHL games this past season, White recorded 25 points. White showed progress when he recorded six points in five AHL Playoff games this year. In two of the five AHL Playoff games White played in, he recorded a two-assist game. White did show better AHL play than ex-Senator Zack Ostapchuk, who went pointless in the AHL Playoffs for San Jose.
White's 2018-19 season was one that brought hope to the Senators and White's career. However, White's play has taken a dip at 28 years old. White will be an unrestricted free agent this Summer.