(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Defenseman Matt Niskanen was drafted 28th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars from Virginia, Minnesota. Niskanen would wait just two years to make his NHL debut.
Niskanen went pointless in his NHL debut on Oct. 3, 2007, in Denver. Two nights later, Niskanen recorded two assists in a game against the Bruins. It wouldn’t be until Oct. 29 that Niskanen would score his first NHL goal against the Sharks.
Niskanen finished his rookie season recording 26 points (7G, 19A) in 78 games played. Niskanen finished second in +/- for the season with a +22 rating behind Brenden Morrow.
In the 2008 Playoffs, Niskanen would record three assists for the Stars in 16 playoff games in a six-game series loss to the Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals.
The Stars saw Niskanen improve from his rookie year as he finished with 35 points (6G, 29A) in the 2008-09 season. But the following 2009-10 season, Niskanen struggled, and finished with 15 points (3G, 12A), and a -15 rating.
Niskanen’s tenure in Dallas would end during the 2010-11 season. On Feb. 21, 2011 Niskanen and teammate James Neal were traded to the Penguins in exchange for defenseman Alex Goligoski.
In his Stars tenure, Niskanen finished with 82 points (16G, 66A) in 277 games. One popular moment Niskanen had with Dallas was his fight with NHL legend Sidney Crosby in a game in November 2010.
Niskanen finished 2011 with the Penguins. After 2011, Niskanen played for the Penguins for the next three seasons. Following the 2013-14 season, Niskanen spent the next five seasons of his career with the Capitals.
In Washington, Niskanen was an important veteran defenseman in the Capitals locker room. Niskanen and the Capitals would win the 2018 Stanley Cup Final against the Golden Knights.
Niskanen spent the final season of his career with the Flyers in the 2019-20 season. In Philadelphia, Niskanen finished with 33 points (8G, 25A) in 68 games before the NHL suspended the season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic concerns.
The Flyers were eliminated in the second round of the 2020 Playoffs in seven games to the Islanders. After the season, Niskanen shockingly retired at 33 years old. Niskanen had one year remaining on his contract with the Flyers at the time of his retirement.
In his NHL career, Niskanen recorded 356 points (72G, 284A) in 949 games, and finished with a +112 rating.
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