| Mathieu Schneider | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Schneider with theDetroit Red Wings in 2006 | |||
| Born | (1969-06-12)June 12, 1969 (age 56) New York City, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens New York Islanders Toronto Maple Leafs New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings Detroit Red Wings Anaheim Ducks Atlanta Thrashers Vancouver Canucks Phoenix Coyotes | ||
| National team |  United States | ||
| NHL draft | 44th overall,1987 Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 1987–2010 | ||
Mathieu David Schneider (born June 12, 1969) is an American former professionalice hockey player. Considered an offensive defenseman, Schneider played 1,289 games in theNational Hockey League with ten different teams, scoring 233 goals and totaling 743 points. He won theStanley Cup in1993 with theMontreal Canadiens.
Schneider, who isJewish,[1][2] was born inManhattan, New York, the first of two sons born to Sam and Aline Schneider. His father is Jewish and his mother, aFrench-Canadian fromThetford Mines,Quebec,converted to Judaism before marrying his father.[3] He lived with his family inWest New York, New Jersey until moving toWoonsocket, Rhode Island, for his high school years. In Woonsocket, Schneider attended high school atMount Saint Charles Academy. Under the tutelage of coach Normand "Bill" Belisle, Schneider and his team won three of the school's 26 straight Rhode Island state hockey championships. He left Mount Saint Charles after his junior year and joined theCornwall Royals of theOntario Hockey League.
Drafted in the third round of the1987 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall, by theMontreal Canadiens, Schneider was the Canadiens' fourth pick (after forwardsAndrew Cassels andJohn LeClair, and fellow defensemanÉric Desjardins). He played his firstNHL game a few months later when he suited up on1987–88 opening night against thePhiladelphia Flyers. However, after four games, he was sent back to hisjunior team (Cornwall Royals) for the rest of the season. He would spend the entirety of1988–89 with Cornwall before splitting the next season between Montreal and theirAmerican Hockey Leaguefarm team, theSherbrooke Canadiens. After being promoted to the Canadiens, he scored seven goals and 21 points in 44 games with Montreal. Schneider earned a full-time NHL roster spot in the1990–91 season and, two years later, he won the1993Stanley Cup with the Canadiens, defeatingWayne Gretzky and theLos Angeles Kings in five games. Following his Stanley Cup victory, Schneider broke out with 52 points in1993–94, topping all team defensemen. During the 1994–95 season, Schneider was traded to theNew York Islanders finishing the season with 29 points in 43 games between the two clubs. In 1995–96, he recorded 47 points in 65 games with the Islanders and appeared in his firstNHL All-Star Game (1996), before being traded in March 1996 to theToronto Maple Leafs (along with Toronto fan-favoriteWendel Clark) in exchange for three players and a first-round selection in the1997 NHL Entry Draft (eventuallyRoberto Luongo).[4] He finished the year with 54 points in 78 games between the two clubs.
Prior to the1996–97 season, Schneider was a member of the1996World Cup championTeam USA squad. It was his high point for the season as he suffered a serious groin injury and was lost for the majority of the season, playing only 26 games.[4] He returned to the Leafs from his injury the following season and tallied 37 points in 76 games. He was a contract hold-out as arestricted free agent prior to the1998–99 season, reportedly seeking a $3.3 million salary with the Maple Leafs. Consequently, a few games into the season, the Maple Leafs traded him to theNew York Rangers where he then signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract. Born inManhattan, Schneider stated his excitement to be playing for his hometown team.[5] In two seasons with the Rangers he accumulated 34, then 30 points.
Schneider was left unprotected in the2000 NHL Expansion Draft and he was chosen by theColumbus Blue Jackets.[6] However, he was never signed by the Blue Jackets and, less than a month later, Schneider signed with theLos Angeles Kings.[7] In his first season with the Kings, Schneider tallied 51 points in 73 games, his highest total since his 52-point season with the Canadiens in 1993–94. As the Kings played into the second round of the2001 playoffs, Schneider matched a career-high 9 points in 13 playoff games.
After appearing in his second All-Star Game in2003, Schneider was dealt at the trade deadline to theDetroit Red Wings for two players and two draft picks. The Kings had shopped Schneider around as he was set to become anunrestricted free agent at the end of the season. With the development of offensive-minded defensemenJoe Corvo andLubomir Visnovsky, Schneider was considered replaceable by the Kings.[8] Although the Red Wings had traded for Schneider as a rental player to bolster their Stanley Cup run, they were upset in the first round by theMighty Ducks of Anaheim. Schneider finished the season with 16 goals and 50 points between the Kings and Red Wings.
Schneider was re-signed by Detroit in the off-season to a two-year deal[9] and he eventually played another three seasons with the Red Wings that included a career-high 21 goals and 59 points in2005–06. He played his 1,000th NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks on October 21 of that same season and scored his 200th NHL goal on March 6, 2007, against theNashville Predators.[10]
Following the2006–07 season, Schneider became an unrestricted free agent and he signed a two-year, $11.25 million deal with the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks had pursued Schneider in lieu ofNorris Trophy-winner andteam captainScott Niedermayer's expected retirement (although Niedermayer returned to the Ducks later in the season).[11][12] By signing with the Ducks, he missed a chance for another Stanley Cup, arriving in Anaheim the same year that Detroit won the2008 Stanley Cup championship and a year after the Ducks'2007 Stanley Cup victory. Schneider did not debut with the Ducks until a couple months into the season, as he sustained abroken ankle in a pre-season game against theLos Angeles Kings.[13] In his only season with the Ducks, he tallied 39 points in 65 games, second among Ducks' defensemen.[14]
As the2008–09 season approached, the Ducks looked to free upcap space in order to re-signTeemu Selänne. WithAll-Star defensemenChris Pronger andScott Niedermayer ahead of him on the depth chart, Schneider was placed on waivers, but cleared.[15] The Ducks instead traded him to theAtlanta Thrashers on September 26, 2008, in exchange for three players.[16] However, Schneider did not remain with the Thrashers for the whole season. He was traded back to the Montreal Canadiens in February 2009 for two draft choices.
On August 28, 2009, theVancouver Canucks signed Schneider to a one-year, $1.55 million contract. The deal included a $1 million signing bonus (making his base salary $550,000), dispersed throughout the season over four equal payments.[17] After having undergone off-season shoulder surgery, Schneider missed the first 10 games of the2009–10 season and made his Canucks debut on October 25 in a 2–0 win against theEdmonton Oilers.[18] He was playing primarily as a depth defenseman and on December 20, he left the team due to a reported dispute about his playing time. Following his debut for the Canucks, he was a healthy scratch 11 times in 28 games. The Canucks explained his absence as a "personal matter", while general managerMike Gillis reportedly tried to trade Schneider.[19]
On December 29, 2009, Schneider was waived by the Vancouver Canucks.[20] After clearing waivers, he reported to the Canucks' AHL affiliate, theManitoba Moose on January 2, 2010.[21] On March 3, 2010, Schneider was traded from theVancouver Canucks to thePhoenix Coyotes forSean Zimmerman and a sixth-round draft pick. At the end of 2010, Schneider officially ended his career as a player.[22]
Schneider appeared as a member of the Red Wings alumni team on December 31, 2013 atComerica Park against members of theToronto Maple Leafs alumni.
Shortly after announcing his retirement, Schneider became involved with theNational Hockey League Players' Association as a special assistant.[22] His first significant project with the NHLPA has been adjustments to the head-shot and boarding rules, alongside former Red Wings teammateBrendan Shanahan.[23] As of 2018, he was a special assistant to now-former NHLPA executive directorDon Fehr.[24]
Schneider first played for the United States in the1988 World Junior Championships, tallying 2 assists as the U.S. finished in sixth place. He made his senior international debut at the1996 World Cup, where the U.S. won the tournament in a three-game final overCanada. Schneider scored 2 goals in 7 games.
Two years later, in 1998, he was selected to join the U.S. team at the1998 Winter Olympics inNagano. He failed to register a point as the U.S. finished a disappointing sixth. A serious groin/abdominal injury kept Schneider from consideration for the2002 Winter Olympics inSalt Lake City, and, although he was chosen to his second World Cup tournament in2004, he pulled out of the games due to a lack of insurance (he was not signed to anNHL team that summer).[citation needed]
In December 2005, he was selected to represent the U.S. at the2006 Winter Olympics inTurin. Despite a two-point performance from Schneider in the quarterfinals, the U.S. was eliminated byFinland.[25]
Schneider married his wife, Shannon, in 1999, and has 4 children, Mathieu Jr, Abigail, Micah, and Ella. He lives inManhattan Beach, California.[26] Schneider was one of a handful ofJewish players in the NHL.[26]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1985–86 | Mount Saint Charles Academy | HS-RI | 19 | 3 | 27 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Cornwall Royals | OHL | 63 | 7 | 29 | 36 | 75 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | ||
| 1987–88 | Cornwall Royals | OHL | 48 | 21 | 40 | 61 | 83 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 14 | ||
| 1987–88 | Sherbrooke Canadiens | AHL | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 1987–88 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Cornwall Royals | OHL | 59 | 16 | 57 | 73 | 96 | 18 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 30 | ||
| 1989–90 | Sherbrooke Canadiens | AHL | 28 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 44 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 25 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 31 | ||
| 1990–91 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 63 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 18 | ||
| 1991–92 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 78 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 72 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 1992–93 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 60 | 13 | 31 | 44 | 91 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 | ||
| 1993–94 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 75 | 20 | 32 | 52 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 30 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | New York Islanders | NHL | 13 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | New York Islanders | NHL | 65 | 11 | 36 | 47 | 93 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 13 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 1996–97 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 26 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 76 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 75 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | New York Rangers | NHL | 80 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 73 | 16 | 35 | 51 | 56 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 10 | ||
| 2001–02 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 55 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 68 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | ||
| 2002–03 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 65 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 13 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2003–04 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 78 | 14 | 32 | 46 | 56 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2005–06 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 72 | 21 | 38 | 59 | 86 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | ||
| 2006–07 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 68 | 11 | 41 | 52 | 66 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 | ||
| 2007–08 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 65 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 50 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 2008–09 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 44 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 23 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 17 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,289 | 223 | 521 | 744 | 1,250 | 116 | 11 | 43 | 54 | 155 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | United States | WJC | 6th | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | |
| 1996 | United States | WCH |  | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | |
| 1998 | United States | OG | 6th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 2006 | United States | OG | 8th | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 | |
| Junior totals | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | ||||
| Senior totals | 17 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 30 | ||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
