From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Matt Niskanen
Matt Niskanen
Matt Niskanen ed nine goals, twenty-two assists in thirty-nine games.
Niskanen was named to the 2006–2007 All WCHA First
Team,[1] and the All WCHA academic Team.[2]
Niskanen decided to leave college and turn pro after
his sophomore season at UMD Bulldogs.[3] On March 19,
2007 he signed an Amateur tryout contract with the Iowa
Stars for the rest of the season; he later signed a three-
year NHL contract with the Dallas Stars which began in
2007–08. He subsequently made the Stars’ 2007–08 roster
out of training camp.
Professional career
Niskanen made his NHL regular season debut against the
Colorado Avalanche on October 3, 2007. He recorded his
first NHL points against the Boston Bruins two nights lat-
er with two assists. His first NHL goal came on October 29,
Born December 6, 1986 (1986-12-06)
Virginia, MN, USA 2007 against the San Jose Sharks. Niskanen had an excel-
lent rookie start with the Stars, leading the team in plus/
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) minus at mid-season, which resulted in his being invit-
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb) ed to the Young Stars game during the 2008 NHL All-Star
weekend.
Position Defense
On February 21, 2011 Niskanen was traded along with
Shoots Right teammate James Neal to the Pittsburgh Penguins in ex-
change for defenseman Alex Goligoski.
NHL team Pittsburgh Penguins
Former teams Dallas Stars
National team United States
Career statistics
NHL Draft 28th overall, 2005 Regular season Playoffs
Dallas Stars Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts
Playing career 2007–present 2005–06 Minnesota WCHA 38 1 13 14 40 — — — —
Duluth
Matthew Norman Niskanen (born December 6, 1986) is an 2006–07 Minnesota WCHA 39 9 22 31 42 — — — —
American professional ice hockey defenseman currently Duluth
playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hock- 2006–07 Iowa Stars AHL 13 0 3 3 6 12 2 5 7
ey League. He was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the first 2007–08 Dallas NHL 78 7 19 26 36 16 0 3 3
round, 28th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Stars
2008–09 Dallas NHL 80 6 29 35 52 — — — —
Playing career Stars
2009–10 Dallas NHL 74 3 12 15 18 — — — —
Amateur career Stars
Niskanen attended the University of Minnesota Duluth. 2010–11 Dallas NHL 45 0 6 6 30 — — — —
In 2005–06, his freshman season on the Minnesota-Du- Stars
luth Bulldogs hockey team, he recorded 14 points in 38 2010–11 Pittsburgh NHL 18 1 3 4 20 7 0 1 1
games. Before that, Niskanen played for the Virginia/ Penguins
Mountain Iron-Buhl boy’s hockey team and helped bring NHL totals 295 17 69 86 156 23 0 4 4
the Blue Devils to their first state high school tournament
appearance. During 2006–07, his sophomore season on
the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs hockey team, he record-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Matt Niskanen
Preceded by Dallas Stars first round draft pick Succeeded by
Mark Fistric 2005 Ivan Vishnevskiy
References External links
[1] "Niskanen selected to All WCHA First Team". UMD • Matt Niskanen’s NHL player profile
Bulldogs. 2006-03-30. • Matt Niskanen’s career stats at Eliteprospects.com
http://www.umdbulldogs.com/ • Matt Niskanen’s career stats at The Internet Hockey
index.php?sect_rank=2&story_id=3183. Retrieved Database
2010-07-20. Persondata
[2] "All WCHA Academic Team announced". UMD
Name Niskanen, Matt
Bulldogs. 2006-04-15.
http://www.umdbulldogs.com/ Alternative names
index.php?sect_rank=2&story_id=3171. Retrieved Short description American ice hockey player
2010-06-07. Date of birth December 6, 1986
[3] "Matt Niskanen to sign with Stars". Duluth News
Place of birth Virginia, MN, USA
Tribune. 2007-03-20.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/ Date of death
index.cfm?id=37959§ion=Sports. Retrieved Place of death
2008-07-06.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matt_Niskanen&oldid=464976957"
Categories:
• 1986 births
• Living people
• People from Virginia, Minnesota
• American people of Finnish descent
• American ice hockey defencemen
• Dallas Stars draft picks
• Dallas Stars players
• Ice hockey people from Minnesota
• Iowa Stars (AHL) players
• Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey players
• National Hockey League first round draft picks
• Pittsburgh Penguins players
• American ice hockey defenceman stubs
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