Mathieu Schneider

Lore & Background

Schneider was born in Manhattan, New York, to a Jewish father and a French-Canadian mother who converted to Judaism. He grew up in West New York, New Jersey, and later moved to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, for high school. At Mount Saint Charles Academy, under coach Normand 'Bill' Belisle, he won three of the school's 26 straight Rhode Island state hockey championships. He left after his junior year to join the Cornwall Royals of the Ontario Hockey League.

Drafted 44th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1987 NHL entry draft, Schneider made his NHL debut on opening night of the 1987–88 season against the Philadelphia Flyers. After four games he was returned to junior hockey. He earned a full-time NHL roster spot in 1990–91 and won the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993. Following the Cup win, he led all team defensemen in scoring with 52 points in 1993–94. He was traded multiple times, playing for the New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Montreal Canadiens again, Vancouver Canucks, and Phoenix Coyotes.

With the Red Wings, Schneider was acquired as a rental at the 2003 trade deadline but the team was upset in the first round. He re-signed with Detroit and played three more seasons, including a career-high 21 goals and 59 points in 2005–06. He played his 1,000th NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks on October 21, 2005, and scored his 200th NHL goal on March 6, 2007, against the Nashville Predators. After leaving Detroit, he signed with Anaheim but missed the Ducks' 2007 Cup win and the Red Wings' 2008 Cup win. He later played for Atlanta, Montreal again, Vancouver, and Phoenix before retiring in 2010.

Reader's Guide

Mathieu Schneider's career is notable for its longevity and offensive production from the blue line. Over 1,289 games, he scored 233 goals and 743 points, a high total for a defenseman. He won the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993 and represented the United States in the 1996 World Cup (winning gold) and the 1998 and 2006 Winter Olympics. His career spanned 22 seasons and ten NHL teams, making him a well-traveled veteran. After retiring, he became involved with the NHL Players' Association as a special assistant, working on head-shot and boarding rule adjustments alongside former teammate Brendan Shanahan. His legacy includes being a reliable offensive defenseman who contributed significantly to every team he played for, though he never won a second Stanley Cup.

Did You Know?

• Schneider was born in Manhattan, New York, and later played for his hometown New York Rangers.
• He was traded along with Wendel Clark to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996 for three players and a first-round pick that became Roberto Luongo.
• Schneider scored a career-high 21 goals and 59 points in the 2005–06 season with the Detroit Red Wings.
• He was a member of the 1996 World Cup champion Team USA squad.