Matt Bradley

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Matt Bradley bigraphy, stories - Canadian ice hockey player

Matt Bradley : biography

June 13, 1978 –

Matthew William Bradley (born June 13, 1978) is a Canadian professional hockey right winger who is currently an Unrestricted Free Agent. He most recently played a brief stint with TuTo of the Finnish second tier Mestis league. He has previously played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and the Florida Panthers.

Playing career

Bradley grew up in the rural Ottawa suburb of Stittsville, Ontario and played most of his minor hockey for the local Stittsville Rams "C" teams as well as AA for the Ottawa Valley Titans of the ODHA.

After a solid Bantam season in 1993-94 with the Titans, Bradley was drafted and signed with the Cumberland Grads of the Central Junior Hockey League (CJHL). He spent the 1994-95 season with the Grads before being selected in the 2nd round (31st overall) of the 1995 OHL Priority Selection by the Kingston Frontenacs.

Bradley was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, in the fourth round, 102nd overall. Prior to signing with the Washington Capitals, he also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks.

Though he is not an offensive powerhouse, Bradley effectively carved out a niche for himself as a tough, checking line winger. In the 2007–08 season, Bradley doubled his fight total from the previous year, had a career-high 111 shots on goal, and was third among Capitals forwards in hits, even though he had the second lowest amount of ice time. Bradley improved his plus/minus rating in every season from 2003 to 2008.

Bradley was re-signed by the Capitals on May 27, 2008 to a three-year contract at $1,000,000 per season.

On July 3, 2011, Bradley signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Florida Panthers. In the 2011–12 season, Bradley appeared in only 45 games, his lowest since his rookie season, recording 8 points. With a limited role and dwindling future prospects in June of 2012, the Panthers placed Bradley on waivers and subsequently bought out his remaining year on his contract.

With the 2012 NHL lockout in affect, and with limited interest, Bradley signed a month by month contract with Finnish second division club, TuTo Hockey on October 29, 2012. After just one game with TuTo, Bradley suffered an injury and opted end his agreement and return to Canada for rehabilitation on November 5, 2012.

Awards

  • 1997–98 OHL William Hanley Trophy

Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1993–94 Ottawa Valley Titans ODHA 32 26 22 48 46
1994–95 Cumberland Grads CJHL 41 13 22 35 62
1995–96 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 55 10 14 24 17 6 0 1 1 6
1996–97 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 65 24 24 48 41 5 0 4 4 2
1996–97 Kentucky Thoroughblades AHL 1 0 1 1 0
1997–98 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 55 33 50 83 24 8 3 4 7 7
1998–99 Kentucky Thoroughblades AHL 79 23 20 43 57 10 1 4 5 4
1999–00 Kentucky Thoroughblades AHL 80 22 19 41 81 9 6 3 9 9
2000–01 Kentucky Thoroughblades AHL 22 5 8 13 16 1 1 0 1 5
2000–01 San Jose Sharks NHL 21 1 1 2 19
2001–02 San Jose Sharks NHL 54 9 13 22 43 10 0 0 0 0
2002–03 San Jose Sharks NHL 46 2 3 5 37
2003–04 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 7 9 16 65
2004–05 Dornbirner EC AUT 6 5 2 7 18
2005–06 Washington Capitals NHL 74 7 12 19 72
2006–07 Washington Capitals NHL 57 4 9 13 47
2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 77 7 11 18 74 7 0 2 2 2
2008–09 Washington Capitals NHL 81 5 6 11 59 14 2 4 6 0
2009–10 Washington Capitals NHL 77 10 14 24 47 7 1 2 3 2
2010–11 Washington Capitals NHL 61 4 7 11 68 9 0 0 0 4
2011–12 Florida Panthers NHL 45 3 5 8 31
2012–13 TuTo Fin.2 1 0 1 1 0
NHL totals 675 59 90 149 562 47 3 8 11 8