Stefan Matteau

Lore & Background

Matteau was born in Chicago while his father, Stéphane Matteau, played for the Chicago Blackhawks. He grew up in Blainville, Quebec, after his family settled in the Montreal area following moves to New York City, St. Louis, Silicon Valley, and South Florida during his father's NHL career. He represented the United States at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Matteau signed an entry-level contract with the Devils on August 14, 2012, and made his NHL debut on January 19, 2013. His first career NHL point and goal came on February 9, 2013, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After struggling to secure a regular forward role, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on February 29, 2016, in exchange for Devante Smith-Pelly.

On July 1, 2017, Matteau signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vegas Golden Knights as a free agent. He spent two seasons within the Golden Knights organization before leaving as a free agent. He later signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he scored his first NHL goal in more than four years on February 20, 2020, against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Reader's Guide

Stefan Matteau's NHL career spanned parts of nine seasons, defined by his rugged power-forward style and hard-nose play. Drafted 29th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2012, he debuted at age 18 and scored his first NHL goal against Marc-André Fleury. Despite early promise, he was unable to secure a regular role with the Devils and was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2016.

Matteau joined the Vegas Golden Knights as a free agent in 2017, spending two seasons with the organization before departing. He later returned to the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring in his first game back after more than four years without an NHL goal. A high ankle sprain with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021 sidelined him long-term, and he spent the remainder of that season with the AHL's Colorado Eagles.

After a brief stint in Sweden and Germany, Matteau returned to North America and rejoined the Columbus Blue Jackets organization on a professional tryout. He retired on May 12, 2025, while serving as captain of the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. His career illustrates the journey of a former first-round pick who adapted to various roles across multiple leagues and countries.

Did You Know?

• Matteau's father, Stéphane Matteau, scored the double-overtime game-seven goal for the New York Rangers in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.
• He was born in Chicago, Illinois, but grew up in Blainville, Quebec.

The NHL Journey

Stefan Matteau entered the professional ranks after going 29th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft, selected by the New Jersey Devils. He inked his entry-level deal in August of that year and made his league debut on January 19, 2013, facing the New York Islanders. Just over a month later, at the Prudential Center, he notched both his first career goal and point in the same sequence against Pittsburgh's Marc-André Fleury. His tenure in New Jersey stretched until late February 2016, when the Devils dealt him to the Montreal Canadiens in a swap involving Devante Smith-Pelly. A one-year, two-way pact with the Vegas Golden Knights followed in the summer of 2017, and he spent two seasons within that organization before departing as a free agent. In August 2019, he landed a one-year AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters, where he posted 12 goals and 28 points across 50 games. That performance earned him a two-year, two-way deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in February 2020, and he immediately scored in his first game back in the NHL against the Philadelphia Flyers—the same opponent he had faced for his last Devils goal nearly four years earlier.

Playing Style and Leadership

Matteau was consistently characterized as a rugged power forward who embraced a hard-nose approach to the game. Rather than chasing offensive statistics, he carved out a role as a physical presence on the ice, often serving on fourth lines and absorbing the grittier responsibilities that keep a team balanced. With the Colorado Avalanche in 2021–22, he featured on their fourth unit before a high ankle sprain in his second game of the season sidelined him for four months. Upon his return, he was reassigned to the Colorado Eagles, where he brought a veteran presence and contributed 10 points in 20 games, adding three more goals in the playoffs before the Eagles fell in the Pacific Division Finals to the Stockton Heat. His leadership qualities became most visible during his final stretch with the Cleveland Monsters. Serving in a leadership role during the 2019–20 campaign, he produced 12 goals and 28 points in 50 games. By the time he retired on May 12, 2025, he had risen to the role of team captain, a position that reflected the respect his peers held for his dedication and work ethic over a long, winding career.

A Hockey Family Legacy

Stefan Matteau was born into a household where the sport was woven into daily life. His father, Stéphane Matteau, was a former NHL player whose most iconic moment came in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, when he scored the double-overtime winner in Game 7 for the New York Rangers against the New Jersey Devils. Stefan was born in Chicago in February 1994, during his father's tenure with the Blackhawks, and the family subsequently moved through New York City, St. Louis, Silicon Valley, and South Florida as Stéphane's career took him across the league. The family ultimately settled in the Montreal area, and Stefan grew up in Blainville, Quebec, giving him a Canadian-American identity. The hockey DNA extended to his sister Alyson, who captained the University of Maine Black Bears before going on to play professionally for the Buffalo Beauts in the National Women's Hockey League. Growing up surrounded by professional athletes, Stefan carried that lineage into his own long career, eventually representing the United States at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Later Chapters and Retirement

After his North American stints, Matteau took the next step in his career by venturing overseas. In July 2022, he signed a two-year contract with Linköping HC in Sweden's top league, the SHL. However, adaptation proved difficult; he managed just one assist in his first 16 games before seeking a release from his deal. In November 2022, he moved to Germany's DEL, joining ERC Ingolstadt for the remainder of the season. Back in North America as a free agent, he accepted a professional tryout contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization in September 2023, attending training camp before being reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters to begin the 2023–24 season. His second year with the Monsters was limited by injury, and on May 12, 2025, while serving as the team's captain, Matteau announced his retirement. From a 29th overall pick in 2012 to a captaincy in the AHL, his final chapter closed with the same quiet determination that defined his hard-nose playing style throughout a career spanning over a decade and multiple organizations.

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