Matt Irwin

{{for|the British celebrity photographer|Matt Irwin (photographer)}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Matt Irwin

| image = Matt Irwin 2017-06-08 1.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Irwin with the Nashville Predators in 2017

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1987|11|29}}

| birth_place = Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 207

| position = Defense

| shoots = Left

| played_for = San Jose Sharks
Boston Bruins
Nashville Predators
Anaheim Ducks
Buffalo Sabres
Washington Capitals

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2010

| career_end = 2024

}}

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

File:Matt Irwin (6792954165).jpg in 2012]]

=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.{{cite web|title=Matt Irwin|url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=18745|publisher=eliteprospects.com|access-date=2011-07-04}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.masslive.com/sports/2010/03/james_marcou_and_matt_irwin_of.html|title=James Marcou and Matt Irwin of UMass hockey sign with San Jose Sharks|publisher=|date=2010-03-20}} 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.{{cite news|last = Dubow|first = Josh|url = https://sports.yahoo.com/news/sharks-rely-rookie-d-matt-210845191--nhl.html|title = Sharks rely on rookie D Matt Irwin (scroll down for article text)|work = Yahoo! Sports|date = 2013-05-11|access-date = 2015-10-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130610075614/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sharks-rely-rookie-d-matt-210845191--nhl.html|archive-date = 2013-06-10}}

Irwin scored his first NHL goal on January 26, 2013 against Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche.{{cite web| url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2012020057 | title = Marleau makes history as Sharks blank Avs | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2013-01-26 | access-date = 2013-01-26}} 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.

On April 3, 2013, Irwin signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with the Sharks.{{cite web|url=http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=664031|title=Sharks extend Irwin two-years|publisher=San Jose Sharks|date=April 3, 2013|access-date=April 3, 2013}}

File:Matt Irwin - Boston Bruins.jpg

==Boston Bruins==

On July 10, 2015, Irwin signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Boston Bruins.{{cite web|url=http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=774438|title=Bruins sign defenseman Matt Irwin to a one-year contract|publisher=Boston Bruins|date=July 10, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2015}} 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.{{Cite web|url = http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=782824|title = Bruins Assign Matt Irwin to the Providence Bruins|date = October 12, 2015|access-date = October 14, 2015|website = Boston Bruins}}

==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.{{cite web| url = http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=888178 | title = Predators add Irwin via one-year contract | publisher = Nashville Predators | date = 2016-07-01 | access-date = 2016-07-01}} After a few months with the team, Irwin was signed to a one-year, $650,000 contract extension.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/predators-sign-matt-irwin-to-one-year-contract/c-285409224|title=Predators Sign Irwin to One-Year Contract|website=NHL.com|date=7 January 2017 }} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/11/pittsburgh-penguins-win-stanley-cup-nashville-predators-game-6|title=Pittsburgh Penguins win Stanley Cup again after late Game 6 goals|agency=Associated Press|date=12 June 2017|website=the Guardian}}

On January 9, 2018, the Predators re-signed Irwin to a two-year, $1.35 million contract extension.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/nashville-predators-ink-matt-irwin-to-two-year-deal/c-294799826|title=Preds Ink Matt Irwin to Two-Year Deal|website=NHL.com|date=9 January 2018 }}

==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.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-acquire-irwin-2022-sixth-round-pick-from-nashville/c-315490136 | title = Ducks acquire Irwin, pick from Nashville | publisher = Anaheim Ducks |website=nhl.com | date = February 24, 2020 | access-date = February 24, 2020}} 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.{{cite web| url = https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/sabres-matt-irwin-lands-in-buffalo/ | title = Matt Irwin lands in Buffalo | work = CBS Sports | date = October 9, 2020 | access-date = October 9, 2020}} In the pandemic delayed {{nhly|2020}} 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.{{cite web| url =

https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/capitals-re-sign-lucas-johansen-sign-irwin-mcilrath-and-shepard/c-325851788 | title = Capitals re-sign Lucas Johansen, sign Irwin, McIlrath and Shepard | publisher = Washington Capitals | date = July 28, 2021 | accessdate = 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.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-agree-to-terms-with-matt-irwin--zach-sawchenko/c-345166980 | title = Canucks agree to terms with Matt Irwin and Zach Sawchenko | publisher = Vancouver Canucks | date = July 1, 2023 | accessdate = 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 {{nhly|2024}} season, Irwin announced his retirement from professional hockey on November 14, 2024.{{citeweb| url = https://www.nhlpa.com/news/1-22750/matt-irwin-announces-retirement-after-10-nhl-seasons | title = Matt Irwin announces retirement after 10 NHL seasons | publisher = NHLPA | date = November 14, 2024 | accessdate = November 14, 2024 }}