Matt Irwin

Matthew Irwin (born November 29, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman. Irwin played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and the Washington Capitals.

Playing career

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. He continued his career playing at the college level for the UMass Minutemen of Hockey East.

Professional San Jose Sharks As an undrafted free agent, Irwin agreed to a contract with the Worcester Sharks of the AHL. 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.

Irwin scored his first NHL goal on January 26, 2013 against Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche. 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.

Boston Bruins On July 10, 2015, Irwin signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Boston Bruins. 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.

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. After a few months with the team, Irwin was signed to a one-year, $650,000 contract extension. 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.

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

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. 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. In the pandemic delayed 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.

Vancouver Canucks organization and retirement 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. In his lone season within the Canucks organization, Irwin played exclusively in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, registering 16 points through 65 appearances.

Remaining un-signed into the season, Irwin announced his retirement from professional hockey on November 14, 2024.

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 — — — — — 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

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