Matt Puempel

Last updated

Matt Puempel
2023-01-13 Eisbaren Berlin gegen Augsburger Panther (Deutsche Eishockey-Liga 2022-23) by Sandro Halank-090.jpg
Puempel with the Augsburger Panther in 2023
Born (1993-01-24) January 24, 1993 (age 32)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
team
Former teams
Free agent
Ottawa Senators
New York Rangers
Detroit Red Wings
Malmö Redhawks
Augsburger Panther
Schwenninger Wild Wings
NHL draft 24th overall, 2011
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2012present

Matthew Puempel (born January 24, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Schwenninger Wild Wings of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Puempel was selected 24th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators.

Contents

Playing career

Amateur

Puempel's 2009–10 season was a noteworthy rookie OHL season. Playing for the Peterborough Petes, he led all OHL rookies in goals and points and was second on his team in scoring. His point totals landed him at 39th in overall league scoring and he won the Emms Family Award as well as the CHL Rookie of the Year award. [1] In his second season with the Petes, he was hampered by a back injury just before the season and a bone chip on his hip that required surgery and ended his season prematurely. [2]

On December 8, 2011, Puempel was suspended for 8 games for a hit to the head of forward Sebastian Uvira during a game against the Oshawa Generals. [3] On June 27, 2012, Puempel requested a trade to a contending team and was subsequently dealt to the Kitchener Rangers. "Being around Ottawa and this being my last year of junior, I wanted to win and be a part of a team that is in a different phase of a rebuild," he told the Peterborough Examiner. [4]

Professional

Eager for the chance to select Puempel, Ottawa traded a pair of second-round picks (35th and 48th overall) to Detroit in order to obtain the 24th overall spot in the draft. Puempel signed an entry-level contract with the Senators on December 29, 2011. [5] He made his professional debut with the Binghamton Senators late in the 2011–12 season. In his first full professional season in 2013–14, Puempel scored 30 goals, tying Mike Hoffman for the Binghamton team goal scoring lead.

In the midst of his second full professional season in Binghamton, Puempel was recalled to Ottawa on February 19, 2015. At the time, he ranked third in Binghamton team scoring with 32 points (12 goals and 20 assists) in 51 regular-season games. [6] On March 10, 2015, Puempel scored his first NHL goal against Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins. [7]

In the 2016–17 season, Puempel made the Senators opening night roster. After 13 scoreless games, and relegated to a healthy scratch on occasions, Puempel was placed on waivers by the Senators on November 20, 2016. [8] He was claimed the following day by the New York Rangers. [9]

Puempel recorded his first career hat trick in a 6–3 Rangers win against the Arizona Coyotes on December 29, 2016. [10] All three of Puempel's goals were scored on the power play. On June 14, 2017, the Rangers re-signed Puempel to a one-year extension. [11]

In the lead up to the 2017–18 season, Puempel was assigned to the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, after clearing waivers. On October 21, 2017, Puempel was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Ryan Sproul. [12] During the season, Puempel, along with teammate Matt Lorito, were the only two Grand Rapids Griffins players selected to play in the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic game. [13] On September 9, 2018, the Red Wings signed Puempel to a two-year contract extension. [14] On March 22, 2019, Puempel was recalled by the Red Wings. Prior to being recalled, he recorded 24 goals and 26 assists in 59 games for the Griffins. [15] He made his debut for the Red Wings the next night in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights. [16] During the 2018–19 season, Puempel recorded one goal in eight games for the Red Wings. Following the completion of the Red Wings' season, he was reassigned to the Griffins. [17]

After going unsigned through the start of the 2020–21 season, Puempel signed his first contract overseas, agreeing to a deal with the Malmö Redhawks of the SHL on January 16, 2021. [18]

Personal life

Born in Windsor, Puempel was raised in Essex, Ontario with his older brother Mike. [19] He attended Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School while playing for the Petes where he earned OHL Academic Player of the Month for the East Division in January 2010. [20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2009–10 Peterborough Petes OHL 593331644341126
2010–11 Peterborough PetesOHL5534356949
2011–12 Peterborough PetesOHL3017163331
2011–12 Binghamton Senators AHL 91012
2012–13 Kitchener Rangers OHL51351247431034710
2012–13 Binghamton SenatorsAHL2000032020
2013–14 Binghamton SenatorsAHL743018489410000
2014–15 Binghamton SenatorsAHL5112203231
2014–15 Ottawa Senators NHL 132138
2015–16 Binghamton SenatorsAHL3417133015
2015–16 Ottawa SenatorsNHL262139
2016–17 Ottawa SenatorsNHL130007
2016–17 New York Rangers NHL276394
2017–18 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL51230
2017–18 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL572232542151340
2018–19 Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL6224265038522416
2018–19 Detroit Red Wings NHL81012
2019–20 Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL4617223926
2020–21 Malmö Redhawks SHL 15415421122
2021–22 Augsburger Panther DEL 4622153713
2022–23 Augsburger PantherDEL23711186
2023–24 Augsburger PantherDEL5113162933
2024–25 Schwenninger Wild Wings DEL388513630110
NHL totals871151630
Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Ice hockey
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Slovakia

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2010 Canada Ontario U17 Silver medal icon.svg62350
2010 Canada IH18 Gold medal icon.svg53472
Junior totals1157122

Awards and honours

Puempel being selected by the Ottawa Senators at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft Matt Puempel 2011 NHL entry draft.jpg
Puempel being selected by the Ottawa Senators at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
AwardYear
Junior
CHL Rookie of the Year 2009–10 [1]
CHL All-Rookie Team2009–10
Emms Family Award 2009–10 [21]
OHL First All-Rookie Team2009–10
American Hockey League All-Star Team 2018 [13]

References

  1. 1 2 "CHL.ca - Annual Awards". CHL.ca. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  2. "Matt Puempel – NHL Draft Profile". The Scouting Report.com. June 25, 2011. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  3. "Essex native Puempel suspended 8 games for check to head". Windsor Star. December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  4. "Petes trade Matt Puempel". Peterborough Examiner. June 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  5. "Senators add to prospect stockpile with signings". Ottawa Senators. December 29, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  6. "News Release: Senators recall forward Matt Puempel from Binghamton (AHL)". Ottawa Senators. February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  7. "Tuuka Rask makes 39 saves as Bruins beat Sens for third straight win". NHL.com. March 11, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  8. "Senators' Matt Puempel placed on waivers". CBS Sports . November 20, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  9. "Rangers claim forward Matt Puempel". New York Rangers. November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  10. "Matt Puempel powers Rangers past Coyotes". National Hockey League. December 30, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  11. "Rangers sign Matt Puempel, meet expansion draft requirements". NY Daily News. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  12. Kujawa, Kyle (October 21, 2017). "Detroit acquires Matt Puempel from New York Rangers". Detroit Red Wings . Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  13. 1 2 "ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". theahl.com. Springfield, Mass. January 4, 2018. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  14. Kujawa, Kyle (September 9, 2018). "Red Wings agree to terms with Matt Puempel on two-year deal". NHL.com. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  15. Kujawa, Kyle (March 22, 2019). "Detroit recalls Puempel from Griffins". Detroit Red Wings . Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  16. Wakiji, Dana (March 23, 2019). "Notes: Puempel to make Wings debut as Rasmussen is out with injury". Detroit Red Wings . Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  17. Kujawa, Kyle (April 7, 2019). "Red Wings assign nine players". NHL.com. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  18. "Matt Puempel klar för spel i Redhawks". Malmö Redhawks . January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  19. Newman, Mark (December 1, 2017). "WHEN FATE BECKONS". griffinshockey.com. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  20. "Puempel Academic Player of Month". gopetesgo.com. February 4, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  21. "Petes' Matt Puempel named OHL Rookie of the Year". Ontario Hockey League. April 8, 2010. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the CHL Rookie of the Year Award
2009–10
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Emms Family Award
2009–10
Succeeded by
Preceded by Ottawa Senators first round draft pick
2011
Succeeded by