Nick Mattson
Image: U. of North Dakota

Nick Mattson

Hometown:

Chanhassen Michigan

Team:

Chicago Blackhawks

Currently Playing In:

Pro

Birthday:

1991-10-25
Position:

D

Eligible for draft:

2010
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2010
Height:

6-1
Acquired:

6th round (180th overall), 2010
Weight:

190 lbs.
<<<<<<< Updated upstream
History

2007-08: Nick Mattson skated in 62 games for the US National U17 team and scored 1 goal with 19 assists. His 20 points were most amongst U17 NDTP defensemen. Mattson had 5 assists in six games at the U17 World Hockey Challenge.

2008-09: Mattson scored 4 goals with 19 assists in 63 games for the U18 USA National team and skated for the gold medal winning USA squad at the 2009 U18 World Junior Championship. In seven games at the world tournament he had 1 goal with 2 assists and was +1. Mattson committed to playing college hockey at North Dakota in 2011-12.

2009-10: Played for the USHL Indiana Ice, paired mostly with Taylor Boldt. Named to the 2010 USHL All-Star Game.

2010-11: Mattson skated in his second year in the USHL with Indiana, leading the team’s defensemen with 6 goals and 36 points in 57 games. His plus-33 rating ranked third overall on the team. Mattson added 2 assists in 5 playoff games for the Ice.

2011-12: Mattson skated in all 42 games as a freshman at North Dakota and was frequently in one of the Fighting Sioux’ top two defense pairings. He was the second leading scorer among a North Dakota defensemen corps that also featured fellow Chicago prospect Joe Gleason. Mattson scored 6 goals with 13 assists and was plus-five with 10 penalty minutes. North Daktota finished fourth in the WCHA and captured the Broadmoor Trophy playoff championship after back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Denver. Minnesota returned the favor in the NCAA West regional final, defeating North Dakota, 5-2 to end the Fighting Sioux season.

2012-13: Nick Mattson skated in 38 games in his sophomore season at North Dakota. Partnered with fellow Chicago prospect Joe Gleason part of the year, he scored 3 goals with 8 assists and was +8 with 8 penalty minutes. North Dakota finished third in the WCHA and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after an overtime loss to Colorado College in the WCHA Final Five semifinals. The Fighting Sioux lost to eventual national champion Yale, 4-1, in the NCAA West Regional Final.

2013-14: Mattson was one of four North Dakota defensemen to top 20 points; playing 40 games for the Fighting Sioux in his junior season. He scored 4 goals with 19 assists and was plus-8 with 6 penalty minutes. North Dakota finished second to St. Cloud State in the newly-formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference and lost to Miami, 3-0, in the NCHC semifinals; earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Midwest Regional after defeating Western Michigan in the league’s third-place game. The Fighting Sioux defeated Wisconsin and Ferris State to win the regional; falling to Minnesota 2-1 in the Frozen Four semifinals on a goal in the game’s final second.

2014-15: Mattson skated in 33 games for North Dakota in his senior season with the Fighting Sioux. He scored 4 goals with 17 assists and was +10 with 10 penalty minutes on one of the nation’s top teams. North Dakota finished first in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular season, falling 3-1 to St. Cloud State in the NCHC semifinals and 5-1 to Denver in the third-place game. Receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, the Sioux defeated Quinnipiac and St. Cloud State by identical 4-1 scores to capture the NCAA West Regional before falling 5-3 to Boston University in the Frozen Four semifinals.

Talent Analysis

Mattson is a two-way defender. He is very poised with the puck and makes good decisions. A strong skater,  he needs to keep his game consistently high and bring an edge.

Future

Mattson is in his first pro season in 2015-16 after a successful four-year college career at North Dakota. Mattson attended training camp with Chicago but did not receive an NHL contract from the Blackhawks. Signed to an AHL deal with the Rockford IceHogs in June 2015, he will start the year with the ECHL's Indy Fuel. Long-term, Mattson projects as a lower-pairing, strong two-way defenseman who is sound positionally.

 

NCAA Prospects Notebook, February, 2015: Conference, Beanpot titles decided as regular season winds down

by DJ Powers
on
Kevin Roy - Northeastern University - Beanpot Tournament

Photo: Northeastern University forward and Anaheim Ducks prospect Kevin Roy has produced 123 points (55G, 68A) in 99 games so far in his NCAA career (courtesy of Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

 

The final full month of the 2014-15 NCAA regular season saw some fantastic team finishes and stellar performances from a number of NHL prospects. Hockey’s Future takes a look back at some of the most memorable ones. Unless otherwise noted, all stats are current as of Mar. 4th. Read more»

NCAA Prospects Notebook, January, 2015: Hyman, Bruins prospects standout in first month of new year

by DJ Powers
on
Zach Hyman - University of Michigan

Photo: University of Michigan forward and Florida Panthers prospect Zach Hyman has been a top offensive performer for the Wolverines in the 2014-15 season (courtesy of Patrick Green/Icon Sportswire)

 

The second half of the 2014-15 NCAA Hockey season was in full swing in January. It was a month that featured some excellent performances and fantastic finishes. Hockey’s Future looks back at some of the more memorable moments created by NHL prospects competing in D1 hockey. Unless otherwise noted, all stats are current as of Jan. 31. Read more»

2010 prospects: Nick Mattson

by Holly Gunning
on

On the ice, Nick Mattson has a patient, mature defensive game. Off the ice, Mattson is baby-faced and talks a mile a minute — so fast that he skips words along the way. It’s such a contrast that it’s hard to meld the two together.

Opinions of Mattson vary almost as much as these two sides of him. He may not go high in the 2010 NHL draft because he doesn’t excel at either putting up points (just 19 in 51 games this year) or the physical game. He’s average in size at 6’1, 190, and equally good both ways, and that doesn’t sell as well.

Late developers, who come into the spotlight only in their draft year, are often favored over those who developed early as well. Mattson was good at 15, enough to be invited to the US National Development Team Program. But Mattson, who turned 18 in October, also improved a lot this season, something those who only watched him in the fall or winter might have missed.

"I think as the season’s progressed, Nick’s definitely gotten better and better," Indiana Ice GM and coach Jeff Blashill said in late March. "He started a little bit slow, he got hurt twice during the year (hip and facial fracture). That kind of knocked him back a little bit. Now I think he’s really starting to come and hopefully his best hockey will be down the stretch in the playoff run."

Mattson said there were ups and downs to the season, but what he feels he’s improved on the most this year is rounding out his game. Read more»
More News & Features
HF Boards