Matt Irwin

Matthew Irwin (born November 29, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman for the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Irwin has previously played in the NHL for the Washington Capitals San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres.

For the British celebrity photographer, see Matt Irwin (photographer).

Matt Irwin
Irwin with the Nashville Predators in 2017
Born (1987-11-29) November 29, 1987
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Vancouver Canucks
Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
San Jose Sharks
Boston Bruins
Nashville Predators
Anaheim Ducks
Buffalo Sabres
Washington Capitals
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2010–present

Playing career
Irwin during the AHL All-Star Game in 2012

Amateur

He was named best defenceman in the British Columbia Hockey League Coastal Conference two years in a row, 2007 and 2008, while playing for the Nanaimo Clippers.[1] He continued his career playing at the college level for the UMass Minutemen of Hockey East.

San Jose Sharks

As an undrafted free agent, Irwin agreed to a contract with the Worcester Sharks of the AHL.[2] Irwin scored 73 points in his first two seasons, and was signed by parent affiliate, the San Jose Sharks after injuries to Jason Demers and Brent Burns.[3]

Irwin scored his first NHL goal on January 26, 2013 against Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche.[4] In 38 games with the Sharks in 2013, Irwin scored six goals and six assists, while averaging 2.1 shots on goal per game, the most by a rookie defenceman.[3]

On April 3, 2013, Irwin signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with the Sharks.[5]

Irwin during his time with the Bruins

Boston Bruins

On July 10, 2015, Irwin signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Boston Bruins.[6] Irwin made the opening-night roster with Boston for the 2015–16 season. On October 11, 2015, Irwin was waived by Boston after a -5 plus/minus in his first two games. He was reassigned to Boston's AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, the following day.[7]

Nashville Predators

On July 1, 2016, having concluded his contract with the Bruins, Irwin left as a free agent to sign a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 with the Nashville Predators.[8] After a few months with the team, Irwin was signed to a one-year, $650,000 contract extension.[9] Irwin spent majority of the season with the Predators, recording 14 points in 74 games. Irwin also appeared in 22 games for the team during the 2017 playoffs, where the Predators fell in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals.[10]

On January 9, 2018, the Predators re-signed Irwin to a two-year, $1.35 million contract extension.[11]

Anaheim Ducks

On February 24, 2020, after making 27 appearances with the Predators, Irwin was dealt to the Ducks in exchange for Korbinian Holzer, along with a 2022 sixth-round pick.[12] Irwin featured in 9 games on the Ducks blueline, registering 1 assist, before the season was paused and effectively ended for the Ducks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buffalo Sabres

As a free agent from the Ducks, Irwin agreed to a one-year, $700,000 contract to join his fifth NHL club in the Buffalo Sabres on October 9, 2020.[13] In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Irwin made 24 regular season appearances on the blueline for the cellar-dwelling Sabres, registering just 2 assists.

Washington Capitals

Irwin continued his journeyman career in the following off-season, leaving the Sabres to sign as a free agent on a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals on July 28, 2021.[14]

Vancouver Canucks

Following two seasons with the Capitals, Irwin left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2023.[15]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Saanich Braves VIJHL 46 7 10 17 74 — — — — —
2004–05 Nanaimo Clippers BCHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2005–06 Nanaimo Clippers BCHL 56 3 6 9 41 5 0 1 1 4
2006–07 Nanaimo Clippers BCHL 60 22 27 49 67 24 10 4 14 18
2007–08 Nanaimo Clippers BCHL 59 16 37 53 40 14 6 7 13 22
2008–09 UMass Minutemen HE 31 7 11 18 8 — — — — —
2009–10 UMass Minutemen HE 36 7 17 24 16 — — — — —
2009–10 Worcester Sharks AHL 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Worcester Sharks AHL 72 10 21 31 43 — — — — —
2011–12 Worcester Sharks AHL 71 11 31 42 48 — — — — —
2012–13 Worcester Sharks AHL 35 1 14 15 26 — — — — —
2012–13 San Jose Sharks NHL 38 6 6 12 10 11 0 1 1 10
2013–14 San Jose Sharks NHL 62 2 17 19 35 2 1 0 1 0
2014–15 San Jose Sharks NHL 51 8 11 19 18 — — — — —
2015–16 Boston Bruins NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2015–16 Providence Bruins AHL 64 5 25 30 27 2 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 4 0 1 1 4 — — — — —
2016–17 Nashville Predators NHL 74 3 11 14 26 22 0 2 2 4
2017–18 Nashville Predators NHL 50 2 6 8 8 12 0 0 0 2
2018–19 Nashville Predators NHL 44 1 6 7 38 — — — — —
2019–20 Nashville Predators NHL 27 0 2 2 11 — — — — —
2019–20 Anaheim Ducks NHL 9 0 1 1 4 — — — — —
2020–21 Buffalo Sabres NHL 24 0 2 2 19 — — — — —
2021–22 Washington Capitals NHL 17 1 3 4 6 — — — — —
2022–23 Washington Capitals NHL 61 2 3 5 36 — — — — —
NHL totals 461 25 68 93 211 47 1 3 4 10

Awards and honours
Award Year
BCHL
Coastal Best Defenseman 2007, 2008
College
HE All-Academic Team 2010
AHL
All-Star Game 2012

References
  1. "Matt Irwin". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
  2. "James Marcou and Matt Irwin of UMass hockey sign with San Jose Sharks". 2010-03-20.
  3. Dubow, Josh (2013-05-11). "Sharks rely on rookie D Matt Irwin (scroll down for article text)". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  4. "Marleau makes history as Sharks blank Avs". National Hockey League. 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
  5. "Sharks extend Irwin two-years". San Jose Sharks. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  6. "Bruins sign defenseman Matt Irwin to a one-year contract". Boston Bruins. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  7. "Bruins Assign Matt Irwin to the Providence Bruins". Boston Bruins. October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  8. "Predators add Irwin via one-year contract". Nashville Predators. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  9. "Predators Sign Irwin to One-Year Contract". NHL.com.
  10. "Pittsburgh Penguins win Stanley Cup again after late Game 6 goals". the Guardian. Associated Press. 12 June 2017.
  11. "Preds Ink Matt Irwin to Two-Year Deal". NHL.com.
  12. "Ducks acquire Irwin, pick from Nashville". nhl.com. Anaheim Ducks. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  13. "Matt Irwin lands in Buffalo". CBS Sports. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  14. "Capitals re-sign Lucas Johansen, sign Irwin, McIlrath and Shepard". Washington Capitals. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  15. "Canucks agree to terms with Matt Irwin and Zach Sawchenko". Vancouver Canucks. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
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