Matvei Gridin

Matvei Gridin (born 1 March 2006) is a Russian ice hockey left winger for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) while under contract to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 28th overall by the Flames in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Matvei Gridin
Born	(2006-03-01) 1 March 2006 (age 19) Kurgan, Kurgan Oblast, Russia
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team (P) Cur. team	Calgary Flames Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
NHL draft	28th overall, 2024 Calgary Flames

Playing career

Gridin began playing hockey at three years old in his hometown of Kurgan. He played youth hockey for Spartak St. Petersburg and Avangard Omsk's organizations before being selected by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the 15th round of the 2022 USHL draft. During the 2022–23 season, he recorded eight goals and 11 assists in 40 games for the Lumberjacks.^[1][2]

During the 2023–24 season, Gridin led the USHL in scoring with 38 goals and 45 assists in 60 games. He ranked fourth in the league in goals and tied for fourth in assists.^[3][4] Following the season he was named to the All-USHL first team.^[5] Following his successful season, Gridin was drafted 28th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2024 NHL entry draft.^[6][7] On 5 July 2024, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flames.^[8]

On 3 July 2024, Gridin was drafted first overall by the Val-d'Or Foreurs in the 2024 CHL Import Draft.^[9][10] He was committed to play college ice hockey at Michigan, but forfeited that eligibility after signing his entry-level contract with the Flames instead.^[11][7] As a result, he played the 2024–25 season in the QMJHL. The Foreurs traded his rights to the Shawinigan Cataractes, and he led the team in scoring with 36 goals and 43 assists. He was twelfth overall in league scoring, and received the Michel Bergeron Trophy and Sidney Crosby Trophy as offensive rookie and overall rookie of the year,^[12][13] as well as being named to the All-Rookie Team.^[14] The Canadian Hockey League later named him to its All-Rookie Team as well.^[15]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2022–23	Muskegon Lumberjacks	USHL		40	8	11	19	12		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Muskegon Lumberjacks	USHL		60	38	45	83	51		8	1	4	5	2
2024–25	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL		56	36	43	79	27		16	8	9	17	6
USHL totals				100	46	58	104	63		8	1	4	5	2

Awards and honours

Award	Year
USHL
All-USHL First Team	2024	[5]
CHL
All-Rookie Team	2025	[15]
QMJHL
All-Rookie Team	2025	[14]
Michel Bergeron Trophy	2025	[12]
Sidney Crosby Trophy	2025	[13]