Matt Hackett
Image: NHL

Matt Hackett

Hometown:

London Ontario

Team:

Buffalo Sabres

Currently Playing In:

Pro

Birthday:

1990-03-07
Position:

G

Eligible for draft:

2008
Catches:

Right
Drafted:

2009
Height:

6-2
Acquired:

Free agent signing, 2015
Weight:

170 lbs.
<<<<<<< Updated upstream
History

2007-08: Matt Hackett began the season with the Windsor Spitfires, appearing in four games.  He was traded to the Plymouth Whalers in November of 2007, finishing the season in a backup role for the Whalers.  Hackett played in 22 games total for the season.  He was 1-1-0-0 for the Spitfires while 4.61 goals-against average and a .855 save percentage. He played in 18 games for the Whalers, putting up a 6-9-0-1 record.  His numbers improved with the Whalers, where he had a goals-against average of 3.44 and a save percentage of .901.  He was not selected in the 2008 draft.

2008-09: Hackett laid claim to the Whalers’ crease by November and compiled a 34-15-3-0 record behind a 3.04 GAA and a .913 save percentage.  He appeared in 11 playoff games for the Whalers, posting a 6-5-0-0 record in those games.  Hackett compiled a 3.01 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage in the postseason.  He was voted the Whalers’ Playoff MVP following the club’s ouster.  Matt is the nephew of long-time NHL netminder Jeff Hackett. Hackett was chosen by the Minnesota Wild in the third round, 77th overall, of the 2009 NHL Draft.

2009-10: Hackett appeared in a career-high 56 games for the Plymouth Whalers in his third OHL season and was named to the league’s Second All-Star Team. Hackett finished with a record of 33-21 with three of the losses coming in overtime. He had four shutouts and finished with a 2.62 GAA and .925 save percentage as the Whalers finished second in the West Division behind Memorial Cup-champion Windsor. In eight playoff games he was 3-4 and had a 3.36 GAA and .919 save percentage. Hackett signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Wild in March 2010.

2010-11: Hackett gradually took over the starting duties for the Wild’s AHL affiliate Houston as a 20-year-old and played well in the AHL playoffs as the Aeros reached the Calder Cup finals. In 45 regular season games he was 23-20 with two shutouts and had a 2.37 GAA and .916 save percentage as the Aeros finished second in the West Division. Hackett started all 24 playoff games and was 14-10 with a 2.50 GAA and .903 save percentage.

2011-12: Hackett made his NHL debut with Minnesota in December – replacing an injured Josh Harding two minutes into a game with the Sharks and stopping all 34 shots he faced in a 2-1 Wild win. He got a win in his first NHL start two nights later before being sent back to AHL Houston. He appeared in 12 games with Minnesota during three separate call-ups and was 3-6 with a 2.37 goals against and .922 save percentage. Hackett appeared in a team-high 44 games for Houston and was 20-23 with six losses coming in overtime. He had one shutout for the Aeros and had a 2.38 goals against and .917 save percentage. Houston finished fourth in the West Division; falling to Oklahoma City in four games in a best-of-five first round playoff series. Hackett was 0-2 in two playoff games, being relieved by veteran Mike Brodeur in the second period in both starts; finishing with a 5.93 goals against and .897 save percentage.

2012-13: Hackett allowed 5 goals on 33 shots in his only NHL start of the season— Minnesota’s 7-4 loss to Dallas on March 29th. He spent most of the season with the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Houston before being acquired by Buffalo along with Johan Larsson on April 3rd as part of the trade that sent Jason Pominville to Minnesota. Hackett was 19-20-3 in 43 games with the Aeros and had a 2.66 goals against and .907 save percentage. He played three games for Buffalo affiliate Rochester following the trade and was 3-0 with a 1.62 goals against and .955 save percentage. The Americans finished second in the North Division and were swept by first-place Toronto in the first round. Hackett started one playoff game, a 2-0 loss, allowing 2 goals on 20 shots. He was re-signed by Buffalo to a one-year contract as a restricted free agent in July, 2013.

 

Talent Analysis

Hackett has good size and combines that with athleticism and good reflexes. He rarely loses his composure on the ice. Hackett is the nephew of former NHL goalie Jeff Hackett.

Future

Hackett will likely compete for a spot in the AHL for 2015-16.

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