Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of HF
- Name: Matt Kennedy
- Position: RW
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 202 lbs
- Birthdate: 1989-03-04
- Eligible for Draft: 2009
- Drafted: 2009
- Hometown: Richmond Hill, Ontario
- Acquired: 5th round (131st overall), 2009
- Playing In: CHL
Matt Kennedy
Prospect Grade: 5.5 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2007-08: Limited to 45 regular season games with Guelph in the OHL, scored 17 goals with 4 assists and 99 PIM with a -11 plus/minus. Scored three goals, including one each on the power play and penalty kill, with 1 assist and 25 PM in 10 playoff games.
2008-09: In his third full season with the Guelph Storm, Kennedy led the team in goals (33), assists (40) and points (73) and was also near the top in penalty minutes (95). In 67 regular season games he finished +1. Tied with Brandon Buck (MIN)
for team lead in points in the playoffs with 3 goals and 2 assists in four games. Kennedy was named to the OHL's Third All-Star Team. He signed an AHL amateur tryout contract with Syracuse following the OHL playoffs and appeared in four games with 1 goal and 2 PIM.
2009-10: Attended Hurricanes camp before being returned to Guelph for his overage season. After a mid-season trade from Guelph to Barrie, Kennedy suffered his fifth concussion on a hit from Windsor's Zack Kassian (BUF), for which the Spitfire defenseman received a 20-game suspension. Kennedy returned to the Colts in late January and finished the regular season with 18 goals and 16 assists and a much more respectable 33 PIM in 43 games between the Storm and Colts. Kennedy had a strong playoff run to lead Barrie. The Colts rolled to the East Conference championshp before falling to the eventual Memorial Cup champion Spitfires in the OHL finals. In 17 playoff games, Kennedy scored 9 goals with 6 assists and was +13 with 11 PIM. Signed to a three-year entry-level contract by Carolina in May.
2010-11: Kennedy skated in 57 games for AHL Syracuse after being acquired from the Hurricanes organization in a November 2010 trade. The first-year pro skated in 8 games with AHL Charlotte prior to the trade and in 65 games between the two teams finished with 4 goals (all with the Crunch) and 10 assists. Kennedy was a -11plus/minus and had 73 PMs.
Talent Analysis
Kennedy played his best hockey in his last two years of junior - one of which was his overage season this past year - so his ability level is difficult to determine. While he was stronger than many of his opponents and able to use his size and strength to create opportunities, he was also two or three years older than many of those players. To his credit, Kennedy seemed much more disciplined in his final year of juniors, reducing his penalty minutes sharply while still providing high energy and offensive pressure. As with any athlete who has suffered multiple concussions, there are also health concerns. What can't be denied is that Kennedy has some goal scoring ability and plays with determination.
Future
Kennedy is ticketed for Carolina's new AHL affiliate in Charlotte this season where he will have the opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate forward prospect in the organization. At this time, questions about his health due to his numerous concussions are still there but if healthy, he has the potential to be a solid two-way forward with some crunch to his game. He currently projects as a player with borderline AHL-NHL potential, but the fact that the Hurricanes signed him to a three-year deal may indicate they feel he is capable of a bit more.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: November, 15th 2011
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