Matt Halischuk has only played two games for Nashville, and has already racked up two assists, and earned second star honors against Phoenix on Tuesday night. Where did he come from, and how did he get to Nashville? That is what we are going to find out.
Halischuk was drafted 117th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils; he was their fourth pick. Before he was drafted, Matt played for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. While the team is primarily unknown to most people, from 1947-1960 the team was known as the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters. Supposedly the Mad Hatters fans started the tradition of throwing hats to the ice and coined the Hat Trick phrase. While playing with the Rangers, he scored 46 goals in 107 games, had 125 total points, and served 36 penalty minutes.
Halischuk played his first game on the NHL level on 10-29-2008 with the New Jersey Devils and was traded to Nashville over the summer of 2010 along with a second round draft pick for Jason Arnott. At the start of the 2010-2011 season, Matt reported to Milwaukee and went to work. He has played 29 games there this season, and has posted nine goals and seven assists. On January 16, 2011 Halischuk was recalled from Milwaukee, and made his debut with the Predators on the same day against Chicago.
When Matt was recalled from Milwaukee Nashville took a cap hit of $399,866, and Halischuk is reported to make $875,000 plus a maximum of $262,500 in bonus money on the NHL level for the 2010-2011 season. Unless his contract is extended, Matt will become a restricted free agent after this season.
The road to Nashville has been a twisting one, but I'm glad that Matt is able to come help us out. I'm always excited to see new people on the ice, and I hope he stays with the Predators long enough for Nashville's fans to see him in person. The Predators return home on February 1 to take on Calgary.
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