Matt Stajan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matt Stajan
Stajan with the Calgary Flames in 2010
Born	(1983-12-19) December 19, 1983 (age 41) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Calgary Flames EHC München
NHL Draft	57th overall, 2002 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	2004–2019

Matthew Stajan (born December 19, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a centre. The Toronto Maple Leafs picked him in the second round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 57th player chosen overall.

Stajan started playing in the NHL in 2004. He played for the Maple Leafs until 2010. Then, he was traded to the Calgary Flames. He finished his professional career playing for EHC Red Bull München in Germany. Matt also won a silver medal with the Canadian national junior team in 2003.

Matt Stajan's Hockey Journey

Starting in Junior Hockey

Matt Stajan grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. He played minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. In 2000, the Belleville Bulls picked him for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He played three seasons in the OHL, from 2000 to 2003. During this time, he scored 206 points in 182 games.

In his first OHL season (2000–01), he scored 27 points. The next season (2001–02), he got much better. He scored 33 goals and 85 points. He was also known as a great defensive forward. Matt was even part of the OHL's Eastern Conference All-Star Team.

Joining the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs chose Stajan in the 2002 NHL Draft. Being picked by his hometown team was a "dream come true" for him. He went back to Belleville for one more OHL season (2002–03). He finished with 94 points, ranking 8th in the league. He also played in another OHL All-Star game.

Matt joined the Canadian national junior team in 2003. They played in the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He helped Canada win a silver medal, scoring a goal and an assist.

After his OHL season, Stajan played for the American Hockey League (AHL) team, the St. John's Maple Leafs. He made his professional debut on April 4, 2003. The very next night, he played his first NHL game for Toronto. He even scored his first NHL goal in that game!

Stajan earned a full-time spot with the Maple Leafs in the 2003–04 season. He played in 69 games, scoring 14 goals and 27 points. He also played in the NHL YoungStars Game in 2004. He scored a goal and an assist there.

During the 2004–05 season, the NHL had a lockout. Stajan played for the St. John's Maple Leafs. He had a great season with 66 points in 80 games. When the NHL started again in 2005–06, he returned to Toronto. He worked on being good at both offense and defense. He scored 27 points and was tied for the league lead in short-handed points.

Stajan signed new contracts with the Maple Leafs in 2006 and 2008. His scoring improved, reaching 39 points in 2006–07 and 33 in 2007–08. In the 2008–09 season, he had 55 points, which was third-best on the team. He also led the team with 40 assists.

On January 31, 2010, Stajan was part of a big trade. He moved to the Calgary Flames along with other players. He finished the 2009–10 season with 16 points for Calgary. This brought his total for the year to a career-high of 57 points.

Time with the Calgary Flames

Even though he could have left, Stajan decided to stay with the Flames. He signed a four-year contract. His scoring went down in the next two seasons. He scored 31 points in 2010–11 and 18 in 2011–12. Some people thought his contract was not good for the team. He also had an ankle injury in 2011–12.

When the Flames got a new coach, Bob Hartley, in 2012–13, Stajan's role grew. He had a great season, scoring 23 points in 43 games. He was praised for his strong defensive play. He led the team with a +7 rating, meaning he was on the ice for more goals scored by his team than against them.

In 2013–14, Stajan was expected to be a top player for the Flames. But he got a leg injury early in the season. He played in 63 games and scored 33 points, his highest in four years. Another knee injury sidelined him in 2014–15.

The Flames made the playoffs in 2014–15 for the first time in a while. Stajan played in every playoff game. He scored the winning goal in Game 6 against the Vancouver Canucks. This win helped the Flames move on to the next round. He finished the playoffs with 1 goal and 4 points in 11 games.

In the 2015–16 season, Stajan played on the fourth line. His scoring went down to 17 points in 80 games. A new coach, Glen Gulutzan, came in the next season. He put Stajan back on the third line. In the 2017–18 season, Stajan played his 1,000th NHL game. This is a huge milestone for a hockey player!

Playing in Germany and Retirement

On August 29, 2018, after 15 seasons in the NHL, Stajan signed with EHC Red Bull München in Germany. He played one season there.

Matt Stajan announced his retirement from hockey on May 2, 2019. He later confirmed his retirement through the NHLPA.

After Hockey: A New Role

Before the 2024–25 NHL season, it was announced that Matt Stajan joined the Calgary Flames again. He was hired as a skills consultant. In this role, he helps players from the Flames and their minor league team, the Calgary Wranglers, improve their individual skills.

Matt Stajan's Life Off the Ice

Matt is the son of Mike and Nada Stajan. He has an older sister named Michelle. Matt and his wife, Katie, live in Calgary. They have two sons. Matt's family comes from Slovenia. His grandparents moved to Canada in the 1950s.

Matt wore jersey number 14 for most of his youth career and with the Maple Leafs. He did this to honor his uncle Robert, who also wore that number and passed away when Matt was young. When he joined the Flames, he changed his number to 18.

Stajan is also known for his charity work. He was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2007. This award recognizes players who show leadership and help their community. In Calgary, he has supported the Alberta Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.

In 2013, the Flames gave him the Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award. This award is for perseverance, dedication, and leadership. Matt and his wife Katie also hosted an event called "A Night Under the Stars." This event raised over $100,000 to help families at Calgary's Foothills Medical Centre. Stajan is also active with the National Hockey League Players' Association, helping represent players.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play

Medal record
Representing Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championship
Silver	2003 Canada

Awards and Special Mentions