Stefan Matteau
Stefan Matteau | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 23, 1994 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey forward |
| Years active | 2013–2025 |
Stefan Matteau (born February 23, 1994) is a retired American professional ice hockey forward who competed in the National Hockey League (NHL). Although born in Chicago, Illinois, he was raised in Blainville, Quebec.
Playing career
Selected 29th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, Matteau was recognized as a tough power forward with a gritty playing style. He made his NHL debut for the Devils on January 19, 2013, facing the New York Islanders. Prior to his debut, he inked an entry-level contract with New Jersey on August 14, 2012. Matteau notched his first NHL goal and point on February 9, 2013, scoring against Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the course of the 2015–16 campaign, Matteau was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on February 29, 2016, with Devante Smith-Pelly moving to New Jersey in return. Upon entering free agency on July 1, 2017, he agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. After spending two seasons in Vegas, Matteau signed an AHL-only one-year deal with the Cleveland Monsters, the affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, on August 22, 2019. Assuming a leadership position within the team, he tallied 12 goals and accumulated 28 points across 50 games during the 2019–20 season before securing a two-year, two-way contract with Columbus on February 19, 2020. In his first game back at the NHL level on February 20, 2020, he scored his first goal in over four years.
Matteau agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 29, 2021. Following training camp and assignment to their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, he was recalled and made his debut for Colorado in October of that year. Unfortunately, a severe high ankle sprain resulted in an extended absence. After approximately four months sidelined, Matteau returned to participate in 20 games for the Eagles during the remainder of the season, contributing 10 points and providing seasoned leadership. He added three goals during the playoffs before the team was eliminated in the Pacific Division Finals.
Once his contract with Colorado concluded, Matteau signed a two-year agreement with Swedish squad Linköping HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) on July 29, 2022. Finding it challenging to adjust and recording only one assist in his first 16 games of the 2022–23 season, he requested release and subsequently joined German club ERC Ingolstadt of the DEL for the remainder of that season on November 17, 2022.
Upon completing his tenure in Germany, Matteau returned to North America and accepted a professional tryout contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets for their training camp ahead of the season on September 6, 2023. After participating in preseason activities, he was reassigned to continue his tryout with their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. Hampered by injury during his second year with Cleveland, Matteau concluded his playing career as Captain of the Monsters on May 12, 2025.
International play
Matteau donned the United States jersey at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Personal life
He is the son of former NHL athlete Stéphane Matteau, renowned for scoring a double overtime goal in game seven of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals for the New York Rangers against the New Jersey Devils. His sister, Alyson Matteau, competes professionally for the NWHL's Buffalo Beauts, having previously served as captain for the University of Maine Black Bears.
Although born in Chicago during his father's stint with the Chicago Blackhawks, Stefan lived in various cities including New York City, St. Louis, Silicon Valley, and South Florida before his family ultimately settled near Montreal.
Regular season and playoffs
2024-25 AHL season Cleveland Monsters AHL 15 2 5 7 8 — — — — —| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2010–11 | U.S. NTDP Juniors | USHL | 28 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 47 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | U.S. NTDP U17 | USDP | 47 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | U.S. NTDP Juniors | USHL | 18 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 93 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 46 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 166 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Blainville–Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | 35 | 18 | 10 | 28 | 70 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 | ||
| 2012–13 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Albany Devils | AHL | 67 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 66 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2014–15 | Albany Devils | AHL | 61 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | |||||||
| 2015–16 | Albany Devils | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||||
| 2015–16 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||
| 2016–17 | St. John's IceCaps | AHL | 67 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 122 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 60 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 57 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2017–18 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| 2018–19 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 55 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 78 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 22 | ||
| 2019–20 | Cleveland Monsters | AHL | 50 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 41 | |||||||
| 2019–20 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |||||||
| 2020–21 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | |||||||
| 2021–22 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 2021–22 | Colorado Eagles | AHL | 20 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 32 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 2022–23 | Linköping HC | SHL | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | |||||||
| 2022–23 | ERC Ingolstadt | DEL | 19 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 9 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 18 | ||
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2023-24
Cleveland Monsters AHL 15 2 4 6 29 14 1 6 7 6 | ||||||||||||||
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NHL career totals |
92 !!6!!5!!11!!41! —! —! —! —! —! | |||||||||||||
International
| Year | Team | Tournament | Outcome | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | United States | U17 | Template:Silver2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2014 | United States | WJC | 5th place | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | |
| Junior career totals | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 12 | ||||