| Matt Irwin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Irwin with theNashville Predators in 2017 | |||
| Born | (1987-11-29)November 29, 1987 (age 37) Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | San Jose Sharks Boston Bruins Nashville Predators Anaheim Ducks Buffalo Sabres Washington Capitals | ||
| NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2010–2024 | ||
Matthew Irwin (born November 29, 1987) is aCanadian former professionalice hockeydefenseman. Irwin played in theNational Hockey League (NHL) for theSan Jose Sharks,Boston Bruins,Nashville Predators,Anaheim Ducks,Buffalo Sabres and theWashington Capitals.
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He was named bestdefenceman in theBritish Columbia Hockey League Coastal Conference two years in a row, 2007 and 2008, while playing for theNanaimo Clippers.[1] He continued his career playing at the college level for theUMass Minutemen ofHockey East.
As an undrafted free agent, Irwin agreed to a contract with theWorcester Sharks of the AHL.[2] Irwin scored 73 points in his first two seasons, and was signed by parent affiliate, theSan Jose Sharks after injuries toJason Demers andBrent Burns.[3]
Irwin scored his first NHL goal on January 26, 2013 againstSemyon Varlamov of theColorado 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]
On July 10, 2015, Irwin signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with theBoston Bruins.[6] Irwin made the opening-night roster with Boston for the2015–16 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, theProvidence Bruins, the following day.[7]
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 the2017 playoffs, where the Predators fell in six games to thePittsburgh Penguins during the2017 Stanley Cup Finals.[10]
On January 9, 2018, the Predators re-signed Irwin to a two-year, $1.35 million contract extension.[11]
On February 24, 2020, after making 27 appearances with the Predators, Irwin was dealt to the Ducks in exchange forKorbinian 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 theCOVID-19 pandemic.
As a free agent from the Ducks, Irwin agreed to a one-year, $700,000 contract to join his fifth NHL club in theBuffalo Sabres on October 9, 2020.[13] In the pandemic delayed2020–21 season, Irwin made 24 regular season appearances on the blueline for the cellar-dwelling Sabres, registering just 2 assists.
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]
Following two seasons with the Capitals, Irwin left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with theVancouver Canucks on July 1, 2023.[15] In his lone season within the Canucks organization, Irwin played exclusively in the AHL with theAbbotsford Canucks, registering 16 points through 65 appearances.
Remaining un-signed into the2024–25 season, Irwin announced his retirement from professional hockey on November 14, 2024.[16]
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Abbotsford Canucks | AHL | 65 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| NHL totals | 461 | 25 | 68 | 93 | 211 | 47 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| BCHL | ||
| Coastal Best Defenseman | 2007, 2008 | |
| College | ||
| HE All-Academic Team | 2010 | |
| AHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2012 | |
