Matt Calvert

Matthew Dean Calvert (born December 24, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche during his career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Blue Jackets in the fifth round, 127th overall, of the 2008 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Junior Calvert began his junior career with a brief stint for the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), during which he accumulated 15 penalty minutes in his only game with the club. The following year was his first of three seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was named alternate captain for the Wheat Kings in his second season with the team.

After being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2008 NHL entry draft, Calvert opted to return to the Wheat Kings for a third season and a chance to win the 2010 Memorial Cup, set to be hosted by Brandon. He was named captain of the Wheat Kings for the 2009–10 season, and Memorial Cup All-Star honours.

Calvert is also noted for scoring a natural short-handed hat-trick against the Calgary Hitmen in the 2010 WHL Eastern Conference Finals. With this feat, Calvert tied the WHL record for most short-handed goals in one game and became the only player in WHL history to score three short-handed goals in one period in the playoffs.

Professional Columbus Blue Jackets Calvert began the 2010–11 season with the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. Calvert was later called up to Columbus on January 6, 2011, and made his NHL debut two days later in a 6–0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. He would score his first career NHL goal one game later against goaltender Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings. The Blue Jackets would assign Calvert to Springfield for the duration of the 2011 NHL All-Star Break before bringing him back up when they resumed regular season play.

On February 25, 2011, Calvert scored a natural hat-trick for the Blue Jackets in a 5–3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. It was the first hat-trick of Calvert's NHL career and the 19th hat-trick in Blue Jackets history.

On April 19, 2014, Matt Calvert helped the Blue Jackets earn their first Stanley Cup playoff win by scoring a short-handed goal in the second period and the eventual game-winning goal in their 4–3 double overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Three years later, during the 2017 playoffs, Calvert was disciplined by the league for an on-ice attack on Tom Kühnhackl of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the 2017–18 season, Calvert proved his versatility throughout the lineup, registering 9 goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 69 games, matching career highs in assists and points while leading the team with two short-handed tallies. He also produced four points in six playoff contests.

Colorado Avalanche On July 1, 2018, as a free agent, Calvert left the Blue Jackets after eight seasons to sign a three-year, $8.4 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

On July 22, 2021, Calvert announced his retirement from the NHL due to a career-ending injury.

Personal life Calvert and his wife Courtney were married in 2014. The couple has two sons, Kasey and Beau. Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2005–06 Brandon Wheat Kings AAA MMHL 38 24 30 54 48 6 3 6 9 0 2006–07 Brandon Wheat Kings AAA MMHL 30 28 55 83 46 16 5 13 18 16 2006–07 Winkler Flyers MJHL 1 0 0 0 15 — — — — — 2007–08 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 72 24 40 64 53 6 1 2 3 2 2008–09 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 58 28 39 67 58 12 9 8 17 22 2009–10 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 68 47 52 99 70 15 9 7 16 15 2010–11 Springfield Falcons AHL 38 13 12 25 12 — — — — — 2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 42 11 9 20 12 — — — — — 2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 13 0 3 3 16 — — — — — 2011–12 Springfield Falcons AHL 56 17 19 36 52 — — — — — 2012–13 Springfield Falcons AHL 34 10 11 21 39 — — — — — 2012–13 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 42 9 7 16 32 — — — — — 2013–14 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 56 9 15 24 53 6 2 2 4 4 2014–15 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 56 13 10 23 28 — — — — — 2015–16 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 73 11 13 24 51 — — — — — 2016–17 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 65 10 5 15 48 4 1 1 2 4 2017–18 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 69 9 15 24 33 6 3 1 4 4 2018–19 Colorado Avalanche NHL 82 11 15 26 58 8 0 4 4 18 2019–20 Colorado Avalanche NHL 50 12 13 25 39 8 1 2 3 4 2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL 18 0 3 3 6 — — — — — NHL totals 566 95 108 203 376 32 7 10 17 34

Awards and honours Award Year WHL East Second All-Star Team 2010