A sixth-round pick (No. 157) by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2008 NHL Draft, Atkinson became a national champion with Boston College two years later, when he scored 53 points and led the NCAA with 30 goals in 42 games.

He scored 31 goals in 39 games the following season and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the player voted the best in NCAA men's ice hockey.

Atkinson signed a two-year contract with the Blue Jackets following his junior season. He made his NHL debut Oct. 7, 2011, and scored his first NHL goal three days later against the Vancouver Canucks.

Following three straight seasons of at least 20 goals, Atkinson scored 35 goals in 2016-17 and replaced Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin at the NHL All-Star Game.

Atkinson signed a seven-year, $41.125 million contract with Columbus on Nov. 17, 2017.

He set NHL career highs in goals (41), assists (28) and points (69) in 2018-19 and helped the Blue Jackets win a Stanley Cup Playoff series for the first time, a four-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference First Round. Atkinson scored two goals and six assists in 10 playoff games.

Atkinson scored 402 points (213 goals, 189 assists) in 627 games in 10 seasons with the Blue Jackets, who traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Jakub Voracek on July 24, 2021. He missed the 2022-23 season because of a herniated disk in his neck, and signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Lightning on July 2, 2024.

Atkinson signed a one-day contract with the Blue Jackets on Oct. 16, 2025, that allowed him to officially retire from the NHL as a member of the organization. He left ranked second in team history in goals, points, game-winning goals (42) and shots on goal (1,883) behind franchise leader Rick Nash. His six hat tricks and 26 postseason points were the most since Columbus joined the League for the 2000-01 season. His 41 goals in 2018-19 were tied with Nash (2003-04) for most in a season by a Blue Jackets player.