Matthew Highmore
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Matthew Highmore (born February 27, 1996) is a
Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...
professional
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
player for the
New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...
of the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). He has previous played for the
Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
,
Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
,
St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
, and
Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
.


Playing career

Highmore was drafted eighth overall by the
Saint John Sea Dogs The Saint John Sea Dogs are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Saint John, New Brunswick. Founded as an expansion team in 2005, the Sea Dogs play their home games at TD Station and ...
of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The league includes teams in Quebec ...
(QMJHL) in the 2012 QMJHL entry draft. He was awarded
alternate captain In ice hockey, the captain is the player designated by a team as the only person authorized to speak with the game officials regarding rule interpretations when the captain is on the ice. At most levels of play each team must designate one captai ...
during the 2014–15 QMJHL season. Despite his success as an alternate captain in the QMJHL, Highmore was passed over at the NHL entry draft twice, the second time being in his last year of eligibility. However, in his last year with the Saint John Sea Dogs, where he led Saint John in assists and points, the
Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
chose to sign him to a three-year NHL contract in March 2017 as an undrafted player. In his last year with the Sea Dogs, he was the only player who earned a professional hockey contract without being drafted. At the end of the 2016–17 season, Highmore was named Sea Dogs MVP and was awarded the Pepsi Top Scorer Award for the second year in a row, after netting 34 goals and 89 total points. Highmore started the 2017–18 season with the Blackhawks
American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
(AHL) affiliate, the
Rockford IceHogs The Rockford IceHogs are a professional ice hockey team based in Rockford, Illinois. They are members of the American Hockey League (AHL), having begun play in the League starting in the 2007–08 season. The team plays their home games at the ...
. He recorded his first professional
hat trick A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mechan ...
against the
Iowa Wild The Iowa Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Wild play their home games at Wells Fargo Arena. The ...
on December 27, 2017. After leading his team in points, Highmore was selected to participate in the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic along with teammate
Carl Dahlström Carl Dahlström (born 28 January 1995) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for HC Lugano of the National League (NL). He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round (51st overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Playin ...
. On February 24, 2018, Highmore became the first Rockford rookie to score more than 20 goals in their rookie season since Rockford joined the Blackhawks organization in 2007. Highmore was called up to the NHL for the first time on February 26, 2018. He made his NHL debut on March 1, 2018, in a 7–2 loss to the
San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
. He had two shots on net in under 13 minutes of ice time. Highmore recorded his first NHL goal in a 4–7 loss to the
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
on March 10, 2018. He was reassigned to the AHL on March 27, 2018, after playing in 13 games and recording 2 points. On April 13, 2018, Highmore was named the IceHogs Rookie of the Year after he was tied for the team lead with 42 points and ranked fourth among rookies in the league in goals. During the last regular season game before the
2018 Calder Cup playoffs The 2018 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 19, 2018, with the playoff format that was introduced in 2016. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-five series in the division sem ...
, Highmore set a new IceHogs rookie goal record with his 24th goal of the season. While attending the Blackhawks training camp prior to the 2018–19 season, Highmore was reassigned to the IceHogs on September 26, 2018, to begin the season in the AHL. He was later named an alternate captain for the IceHogs prior to the 2018-19 season. On November 13, Highmore underwent surgery to repair his right shoulder and he was expected to need four to six months to recover. After rehabilitating, Highmore spent the summer training in Halifax with other NHL and AHL players. Highmore attended the Blackhawks training camp prior to the 2019–20 season but was reassigned to the IceHogs. He was subsequently named an alternate captain alongside
Jacob Nilsson Jacob Nilsson (born 12 October 1993) is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre currently playing for EHC Visp in the Swiss League (SL) in Switzerland. Playing career Nilsson made his Swedish Hockey League (SHL) debut during the 2017–18 seaso ...
and Tyler Sikura. After recording four goals and six assists in 17 games, Highmore was recalled to the NHL on November 26. Highmore recorded 3 goals and 1 assist during the Blackhawks' play-in and playoff run during the 2019–20 NHL playoff bubble. However, in the 2020–21 season Highmore was limited to just 24 games. On April 12, 2021, Highmore was traded from the Blackhawks to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for
Adam Gaudette Adam Gaudette (born October 3, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues. Gaudette pla ...
. He played his first game for the Canucks on April 20. He scored his first goal for the Canucks in a 4–1 loss to the Calgary Flames on May 14, 2021. On May 15 he scored two goals in a 4–1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. During the 2021–22 season Highmore played in 46 games, registering five goals and 12 points. Following the season Highmore was a
restricted free agent A restricted free agent (RFA) is a type of free agent in some sports leagues, such as the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and National Basketball Association (NBA). Such players have special restrictions on the term ...
, but the Canucks declined to give him a qualifying offer, letting him become an
unrestricted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...
. The St. Louis Blues signed Highmore to a one-year, two-way contract on July 14, 2022. Highmore began the season with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the
Springfield Falcons The Springfield Falcons were a ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) and played in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center. In 2016, the Falcons' franchise was purchased by the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Arizona Co ...
. In January 2023, on the basis of his excellent play with Springfield, Highmore was named to the 2023 AHL All-Star Game. He was leading the team in scoring when he was recalled by the Blues on February 18, 2023. He played his first game with the Blues against the
Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
on February 19. He played in one more game before he was returned to Springfield on February 23. As a free agent, Highmore was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators on July 1, 2023. Highmore attended the Senators training camp, but failed to make the team. He was placed on waivers on October 2, 2023 and after going unclaimed, was assigned to Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the
Belleville Senators The Belleville Senators (colloquially known as the B-Sens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Belleville, Ontario. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Ottawa Senators. The Senators pl ...
. He was recalled by Ottawa on November 9 and made his Ottawa debut on November 9, 2023 versus Vancouver. He appeared in six games, registering one point, before being returned to the AHL on December 3. He was recalled again on March 6, 2024. He had nine goals and 29 points in 40 games with Belleville. He played in the following game versus the
Anaheim Ducks The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confere ...
, registering an assist on the team's first goal. However, Highmore suffered an injury after being checked by
Ross Johnston Ross Johnston (born February 18, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the New York Islanders. Playing career Johnston played junior ice hockey s ...
and left the game early. He missed the next two games and was placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury by Ottawa on March 11. On April 14, he was activated off injured reserve and sent to Belleville. Highmore signed a one-year, two-way extension with Ottawa on June 27, 2024. Having left the Senators as a free agent, Highmore was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Islanders for the season on July 1, 2025.


Personal life

Highmore attended Maritime Varsity Academy, a school that focused on athletics, from 2008 to 2010.


Career statistics


Regular season and playoffs


International


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Highmore, Matthew 1996 births Belleville Senators players Canadian ice hockey forwards Chicago Blackhawks players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Living people Ice hockey people from Halifax, Nova Scotia Ottawa Senators players Rockford IceHogs (AHL) players Saint John Sea Dogs players St. Louis Blues players Springfield Thunderbirds players Undrafted National Hockey League players Vancouver Canucks players 21st-century Canadian sportsmen