Playing career

Exelby was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in round 8, 217th overall, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Having already spent one year playing junior hockey for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL, Exelby played the next two seasons at the WHL with the Blades and the Regina Pats. In the 2001-02 season, Exelby moved away from the juniors and played in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves. He stayed with the Wolves for the whole of that season, as the Wolves clinched the AHL's Calder Cup. Exelby was called up to the main Thrashers roster midway through the 2002-03 NHL season.

On July 1, 2009, Exelby was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Colin Stuart for Pavel Kubina and the rights to Tim Stapleton.

Exelby became a free agent on July 1, 2010. He was invited on a try-out basis with the New York Rangers. He was let go on September 27.

On November 26, 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks signed Exelby to a one-year contract and assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.

On July 5, 2011, the Detroit Red Wings signed Exelby to a one-year contract, with the expectation that he would provide depth for the AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.

On July 11, 2012, he was signed as a free agent by the Boston Bruins on a one-year, two-way contract. Exelby failed to make an appearance with Boston throughout the duration of his contact, serving as an alternate captain for AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.

After captaining the Norfolk Admirals on one-year AHL contract in the 2013-14 season, and having not participated in the NHL since 2010, Exelby opted to sign abroad in the Austrian Hockey League, on a one-year contract with Dornbirner EC on July 16, 2014. After 17 scoreless games with Dornbirner in the 2014-15 season, Exelby opted to end his tenure in Austria, leaving the club on December 1, 2014.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997-98	Winnipeg South Blues	MJHL		46	5	11	16	110		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		61	5	3	8	91		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		63	1	8	9	79		11	0	2	2	21
2000-01	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		43	5	10	15	110		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Regina Pats	WHL		22	2	8	10	51		6	0	2	2	2
2001-02	Chicago Wolves	AHL		75	3	4	7	257		25	0	4	4	49
2002-03	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		15	0	2	2	41		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Chicago Wolves	AHL		53	3	6	9	140		9	0	1	1	27
2003-04	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		71	1	9	10	134		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		75	1	9	10	75		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		58	2	8	10	56		4	0	0	0	6
2007-08	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		79	2	5	7	85		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		59	0	7	7	120		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		51	1	3	4	73		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		77	3	10	13	128		—	—	—	—	—
2011-12	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		75	7	14	21	177		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	Providence Bruins	AHL		52	2	7	9	95		12	0	2	2	31
2013-14	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		72	0	18	18	111		8	0	1	1	0
2014-15	Dornbirner EC	EBEL		17	0	0	0	82		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				408	7	43	50	584		4	0	0	0	6

Awards

• Inaugural recipient of the Dan Snyder Memorial Award - 2003-04

Career transactions

• Selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft as an eighth round choice, 217th overall.
• Traded to Regina Pats (WHL) by Saskatoon Blades (WHL) for Scott Balan and future considerations, January 15, 2001.
• Called up during the NHL 2002-03 season.
• Traded to Toronto Maple Leafs along with Colin Stuart for Pavel Kubina and Tim Stapleton, July 1, 2009
• Signed to the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, July 5, 2011
• Signed by the Boston Bruins as a free agent, July 11, 2012

[ Source: Wikipedia ]