Matt Tennyson

Matthew Thomas Tennyson (born April 23, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played for 8 seasons in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, and Nashville Predators.

Early life Tennyson is the son of Tom and Ann Tennyson, and was born on April 23, 1990, in Minneapolis. Tennyson graduated from Amador Valley High School in 2008.

Playing career

Undrafted, Tennyson attended Western Michigan University where he played three seasons of NCAA Division I college hockey with the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team. On March 30, 2012, Tennyson, a native of Pleasanton, California, signed a two-year entry-level contract with his hometown San Jose Sharks. He immediately turned professional to join the Worcester Sharks for the final games of their 2011–12 AHL season.

Tennyson was the first player from the San Jose Junior Sharks youth hockey program to play in the NHL, let alone with the Sharks.

On July 3, 2016, Tennyson signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Beginning the 2016–17 season with AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, Tennyson was recalled after recording 7 points in 9 games to remain with the Hurricanes for the remainder of the season. He appeared in a career best 45 games, collecting 6 assists.

On July 1, 2017, Tennyson was on the move as a free agent, agreeing to a two-year contract with the final year on a one-way basis with the Buffalo Sabres. On November 30, the Sabres placed Tennyson on waivers after 14 scoreless games with the club. He went unclaimed and was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

On July 1, 2019, Tennyson left the Sabres as a free agent to sign a two-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils. In the opening stages of the 2019–20 season, on October 11, Tennyson was called up from the Binghamton Devils to the New Jersey Devils in place of Andy Greene who was put on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury.

On July 28, 2021, Tennyson signed as a free agent to a two-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators. Tennyson featured in 8 regular season games with the Predators through the season, posting 3 assists. He played the majority of the season with AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, adding a veteran presence to the blueline in 53 games.

On July 3, 2022, Tennyson was mutually released from the remaining year of his contract with the Predators after he was placed on unconditional waivers.

On September 1, 2022, it was announced that Tennyson signed for the Coachella Valley Firebirds inaugural season in Palm Desert, California, for the 2022–23 season.

On January 30, 2024, it was announced via Instagram that Tennyson would be joining the Coachella Valley Firebirds broadcast team as an analyst and brand ambassador, effectively ending his playing career.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2007–08 Texas Tornado NAHL 58 4 10 14 80 3 0 0 0 4 2008–09 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL 57 4 6 10 51 5 0 0 0 2 2009–10 Western Michigan University CCHA 34 2 7 9 30 — — — — — 2010–11 Western Michigan University CCHA 42 9 12 21 38 — — — — — 2011–12 Western Michigan University CCHA 41 11 13 24 28 — — — — — 2011–12 Worcester Sharks AHL 7 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2012–13 Worcester Sharks AHL 60 5 22 27 44 — — — — — 2012–13 San Jose Sharks NHL 4 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2013–14 Worcester Sharks AHL 54 7 14 21 33 — — — — — 2014–15 Worcester Sharks AHL 43 4 11 15 30 4 0 0 0 0 2014–15 San Jose Sharks NHL 27 2 6 8 16 — — — — — 2015–16 San Jose Sharks NHL 29 1 3 4 0 — — — — — 2015–16 San Jose Barracuda AHL 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 2016–17 Charlotte Checkers AHL 9 3 4 7 5 — — — — — 2016–17 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 45 0 6 6 6 — — — — — 2017–18 Buffalo Sabres NHL 15 0 0 0 8 — — — — — 2017–18 Rochester Americans AHL 50 3 8 11 40 3 0 0 0 6 2018–19 Rochester Americans AHL 47 4 17 21 42 3 0 0 0 0 2018–19 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2019–20 Binghamton Devils AHL 25 1 8 9 20 — — — — — 2019–20 New Jersey Devils NHL 20 0 3 3 6 — — — — — 2020–21 New Jersey Devils NHL 21 1 2 3 2 — — — — — 2020–21 Binghamton Devils AHL 5 0 2 2 4 — — — — — 2021–22 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 53 3 11 14 44 3 0 0 0 0 2021–22 Nashville Predators NHL 8 0 3 3 4 — — — — — 2022–23 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 71 0 18 18 66 26 0 3 3 28 NHL totals 173 4 25 29 44 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2021 United States WC 10 2 2 4 4 Senior totals 10 2 2 4 4

Awards and honors Award Year College All-CCHA Second Team 2011–12