Matt Hendricks

Matt Hendricks
With the Edmonton Oilers in 2014
Born June 17, 1981
Blaine, MN, USA
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams 		Edmonton Oilers
Colorado Avalanche
Washington Capitals
Nashville Predators
National team  United States
NHL Draft 131st overall, 2000
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2004–present

Matthew James Hendricks (born June 17, 1981) is an American ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Hendricks was drafted out of high school, 131st overall, in the fourth round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. He played his prep hockey at Blaine High School in Blaine, Minnesota. He was an integral piece of the Blaine Bengals 2000 Class AA State Championship team where they defeated the Duluth East Greyhounds 6–0 in the final. Hendricks accumulated 110 points in 43 games during his prep career and was named a finalist for the 2000 Mr. Hockey Award.[1] The St. Paul Pioneer Press named Hendricks, along with teammates Brandon Bochenski and Matt Moore, to the second team of the All-State Boys hockey team.[2]

Hendricks was drafted by the Lincoln Stars during the 2000 USHL Winter Draft,[3] but instead began his collegiate career with St. Cloud State University of the WCHA. Hendricks commenced play for St. Cloud State as a true freshman during the 2000-01 season. In 2002–03, Hendricks led the Huskies in goals (18) as a junior.

Immediately after his senior year with the Huskies, Hendricks made his professional debut with Nashville's minor league affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, to end the 2003–04 season. After turning down a contract offer with the Predators, Hendricks became a free agent and signed with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.[4]

During his time with the Everblades in the 2004–05 season, Hendricks also signed a Professional Try-Out agreement with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL, appearing in 15 games. Hendricks spent the 2005–06 season with the Rochester Americans before moving onto the Hershey Bears for the 2006–07 campaign.

Hendricks enjoyed a successful season in 2006–07 helping Hershey to the Calder Cup finals, adding 12 points in 19 play-off contests. Hendricks was signed by the Boston Bruins to a two-year deal on the July 9, 2007.[5] He was then assigned to their affiliate, the Providence Bruins, where he established a career high 52 points in the 2007–08 season.

On June 24, 2008, Hendricks was traded by the Bruins to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Johnny Boychuk.[6] The Avalanche sent him to the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL for the 2008–09 season until he was recalled on March 9, 2009.[7] Hendricks made his NHL debut with the Avalanche the next day on March 10, 2009, in a 3-0 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers.[8][9]

Hendricks whilst with the Capitals in 2012.

In the 2009–10 season, Hendricks made the opening night roster for the Avalanche.[10] On October 10, 2009, Matt scored his first NHL goal, in a 4-3 loss, against Cristobal Huet of the Chicago Blackhawks.[11] He finished his first full NHL season with 9 goals and 16 points in 56 games while also earning the Avalanche's nomination for the Bill Masterton Trophy.[12] On September 27, 2010, he signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals after attending the team's training camp on a tryout basis.[13] Hendricks signed with Washington based on his desire to play under the tutelage of head coach Bruce Boudreau, with whom he had previously played for with the Hershey Bears in 2006–07.[14]

He made his 2010–11 season debut with the Capitals on October 8, 2010, in a 4-2 defeat to the Atlanta Thrashers. He notched his first point, an assist, with Washington in his third game on October 11, 2010, versus the Ottawa Senators.[15] He scored his first goal as a Capital on October 27, 2010, the game-winner against Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-0 win.[16]

On February 23, 2011, he signed a two-year extension with the Washington Capitals worth $1.65 million.[17] Hendricks was a Bill Masterton Trophy nominee for the second year in a row after the Capitals named him their nominee for the award in April 2011, but Hendricks was not one of the three finalists for the award.[18]

Unable to agree on a new contract with the Capitals, Hendricks was signed as a free agent to a four-year contract to return to his draft team, the Nashville Predators on July 5, 2013.[19]

In the 2013–14 season, Hendricks struggled to perform up to the expectations of his new contract with the Predators, producing just 4 points in 44 games at the midpoint of the season. On January 15, 2014, Hendricks was traded by Nashville to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Devan Dubnyk.[20] In his second season with the Oilers in 2014–15, his first full campaign in Edmonton, Hendricks rebounded offensively with 16 points in 71 games. In adding a veteran presence to the youthful Oilers, Hendricks work ethic was rewarded by again earning a nomination to the Masteron Memorial Trophy.[21]

International play

At completion of the 2014–15 season with the Oilers, at age 33, Hendricks was selected to play in his first international tournament in earning a place in the United States team for the 2015 World Championships in Prague. As an elder statesman on Team USA, he was announced as Team Captain on eve of the Tournament.[22] In the opening game of the Championships, Hendricks marked his international debut against Finland by scoring 2 goals in a 5-1 victory on May 1, 2015.[23]

Personal life

Hendricks grew up in Blaine, Minnesota, son to an American Marine and a Swedish mother.[21] In his spare time he enjoys playing golf. Hendricks is married to wife Kimberly (Kim). Matt and Kim have twins, a boy and a girl, Gunnar and Lennon, born November 10, 2011.[24]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Blaine High School MNHS 22 23 34 57 42 — — — — —
1999–00 Blaine High School MNHS 21 23 30 53 28 — — — — —
2000–01 St. Cloud State WCHA 36 3 9 12 23 — — — — —
2001–02 St. Cloud State WCHA 42 19 20 39 74 — — — — —
2002–03 St. Cloud State WCHA 37 18 18 36 64 — — — — —
2003–04 St. Cloud State WCHA 37 14 11 25 32 — — — — —
2003–04 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2004–05 Florida Everblades ECHL 54 24 26 50 94 4 0 0 0 4
2004–05 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 15 1 2 3 10 — — — — —
2005–06 Rochester Americans AHL 56 13 14 27 84 — — — — —
2006–07 Hershey Bears AHL 65 18 26 44 105 19 8 4 12 18
2007–08 Providence Bruins AHL 67 22 30 52 121 10 0 3 3 6
2008–09 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 43 14 15 29 71 — — — — —
2008–09 Colorado Avalanche NHL 4 0 0 0 13 — — — — —
2009–10 Colorado Avalanche NHL 56 9 7 16 74 6 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Washington Capitals NHL 77 9 16 25 110 7 0 0 0 4
2011–12 Washington Capitals NHL 78 4 5 9 95 14 1 1 2 6
2012–13 Washington Capitals NHL 48 5 3 8 73 7 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Nashville Predators NHL 44 2 2 4 54 — — — — —
2013–14 Edmonton Oilers NHL 33 3 0 3 58 — — — — —
2014–15 Edmonton Oilers NHL 71 8 8 16 76 — — — — —
NHL totals 411 40 41 81 553 34 1 1 2 10

References

  1. ↑ "MNHSL Hockey History". vintageminnesotahockey. 2010-08-18. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  2. ↑ "2000 MNHS Second All-Star Team". mnpuck.com. 2007-02-03. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  3. ↑ "US Hockey report: Amateur hockey news". USHR.com. 2000-01-30. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
  4. ↑ "Hendricks draws upon ECHL experience". ECHL. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  5. ↑ "Boston Bruins sign Hendricks and Reich". Boston Bruins. 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
  6. ↑ "Hendricks traded to Colorado". National Hockey League. 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  7. ↑ "Avs Recall Hendricks". Yahoo! Sports. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
  8. ↑ "Lehtonen makes 35 saves as Thrashers blank Avalanche". The Sports Network. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  9. ↑ "Got the call: Hendricks' NHL dream is fulfilled". Denver Post. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  10. ↑ "Matt Hendricks fighting for a spot". Colorado Avalanche. 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  11. ↑ "Avalanche's Hendricks finally gets first NHL goal". Denver Post. 2009-10-11. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  12. ↑ Frei, Terry (2010-04-06). "Avs' Hendricks nominated for Masterton Trophy". Denver Post. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  13. ↑ "Capitals sign Matt Hendricks to a one-year contract". Washington Capitals. 2010-09-27. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  14. ↑ Vogel, Mike (2010-09-27). "Hendricks hopes to make home here". dumpnchase.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  15. ↑ "Ovechkin's OT goal lift Caps over Senators". Yahoo! Sports. 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  16. ↑ Vogel, Mike (2010-10-27). "Postgame Notebook: Capitals 3, Hurricanes 0". Washington Capitals. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  17. ↑ Carrera, Katie (2011-02-23). "Capitals sign Matt Hendricks to a two-year extension". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  18. ↑ Carrera, Katie (2011-04-11). "Matt Hendricks nominated for Masterton Trophy". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  19. ↑ "Nashville Predators sign Matt Hendricks to four-year contract". Nashville Predators. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
  20. ↑ "Oilers deal Dubnyk to Predators; Acquire Scrivens from Kings". The Sports Network. 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Oilers forward Matt Hendricks earns team Masterton nomination". Edmonton Sun. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  22. ↑ "Matt Hendricks named Captain of U.S. National Team at World Championships". The Score. 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  23. ↑ "Hendricks scores twice, United States handles Finland". National Hockey League. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  24. ↑ Whyno, Stephen (2011-11-11). "Matt Hendricks' wife gives birth to twins". WashingtonTimes.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.

External links