Matt Luff is a 28-year-old Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the New York Islanders organization. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 219 pounds, he plays the right wing position.
Born on May 5, 1997, in Oakville, Ontario, he has spent nearly a decade working his way through professional hockey. Despite never being drafted by an NHL team, he signed his first professional contract in 2016 and has played for multiple NHL teams including the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, and St. Louis Blues.
Just yesterday, on February 24, 2026, he was traded from the St. Louis Blues organization to the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Julien Gauthier. This marks another chapter in his journey as a professional hockey player.
Early Years in Oakville
Matt Luff grew up in Oakville, Ontario, a city located southwest of Toronto known for producing many professional hockey players. Details about his parents and family background are not publicly available, as he keeps his personal life very private.
He began playing organized hockey at a young age in Oakville’s youth hockey system. He played for the Oakville Rangers at various age levels, showing consistent scoring ability even as a teenager.
During the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, he played for the Oakville Rangers U16 and U18 AAA teams. In 72 games with the U18 squad, he scored an impressive 103 points with 58 goals and 45 assists, demonstrating his offensive skills.
Junior Hockey Career
In 2013-14, Matt split time between the Oakville Rangers and the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He played 10 games with the Blades, recording 3 goals and 3 assists.
On June 9, 2014, he signed a contract to play for the Oakville Blades for the 2014-15 season. However, after being drafted by the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League draft, he chose to play major junior hockey instead.
His rookie season with the Belleville Bulls in 2014-15 was solid. He appeared in 64 games and scored 9 goals with 22 assists for 31 points. He was named a finalist for the OHL Rookie of the Year award, though Alex DeBrincat ultimately won.
In 2015-16, the Belleville Bulls relocated and became the Hamilton Bulldogs. Matt had his best junior season, playing 61 games and scoring 27 goals with 30 assists for 57 points.
His final junior season in 2016-17 was shortened due to injuries. He suffered both a shoulder injury and a concussion, limiting him to just 45 games. Despite the reduced schedule, he still managed 25 goals and 24 assists for 49 points.
Signing with Los Angeles Kings
Despite his strong junior career, Matt went undrafted in the NHL Entry Draft. However, he caught the attention of the Los Angeles Kings organization.
He attended the Kings’ development and training camp as a free agent in 2016. His performance impressed the team enough that they offered him a contract.
On September 23, 2016, Matt signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings. This made him the first player from the Hamilton Bulldogs franchise to sign an NHL contract, which was a significant milestone.
Starting Professional Hockey
Following his junior career, Matt was assigned to the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate, on April 7, 2017. This marked the beginning of his professional career.
He spent the 2017-18 and most of the 2018-19 seasons developing his game in the AHL with the Ontario Reign. Professional hockey presented new challenges, as the players were older, stronger, and more experienced than in junior hockey.
His NHL debut came on November 3, 2018, when he was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings to play against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played 9 minutes and 43 seconds in his debut, helping the Kings win 4-1.
After three games, he was sent back to the AHL on November 11, but was recalled again just three days later on November 14. This back-and-forth movement between the NHL and AHL is common for young players.
On November 19, 2018, Matt scored his first NHL career goal in a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Blues. On November 25, in a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, he scored his fourth goal in four games, becoming the fifth Kings rookie since Jimmy Carson in 1987 to accomplish this feat.
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Time with Multiple NHL Teams
Matt appeared in 30 games for the Kings during the 2018-19 season, recording 10 points. He was reassigned to the Ontario Reign on February 8, 2019, to finish the season in the AHL.
He stayed with the Los Angeles Kings organization for five years, splitting time between the NHL and AHL. During this period, he appeared in 57 NHL games for the Kings.
On July 28, 2021, after leaving the Kings as a free agent, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators. A two-way contract means the player earns different salaries depending on whether he plays in the NHL or AHL.
With the Predators in 2021-22, he played 23 NHL games and recorded 6 points. He also played 30 games for their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, where he had 31 points.
On July 13, 2022, Matt signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The 2022-23 season was disrupted by a significant upper-body injury he suffered on November 8 against the Montreal Canadiens.
He was placed on injured reserve from November 9, 2022, to January 24, 2023. According to reports from NHL, he couldn’t skate or even tie his skates for the first month and a half of his recovery.
Despite the injury, he appeared in 19 NHL games for the Red Wings that season, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists. He also played 28 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL, where he recorded 8 goals and 17 assists.
On July 1, 2023, the Red Wings re-signed him to another one-year, two-way contract, showing they valued his contributions.
Recent Moves and Current Status
Following two seasons with the Red Wings organization, Matt became a free agent again in the summer of 2024. He was unsigned for several months, which can be a stressful time for professional athletes.
On September 11, 2024, he received an invitation to attend the Florida Panthers training camp on a professional tryout (PTO). A PTO gives unsigned players a chance to earn a contract by impressing coaches during camp.
Unfortunately, he was released from the PTO on September 30 after not making the team. He then joined the Charlotte Checkers, another AHL team, on a tryout basis.
Matt played 6 games for the Checkers, scoring 2 goals and 4 points, before being released from that tryout as well. On November 7, 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.
His performance with Springfield was excellent. According to springfieldthunderbirds.com, he played 50 games and recorded 45 points with 18 goals and 27 assists. He also scored the game-winning goal in Springfield’s first playoff game.
After his strong AHL season, the St. Louis Blues signed him to a one-year, two-way NHL contract with a cap hit of $775,000 for the 2025-26 season.
Yesterday, on February 24, 2026, Matt was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the New York Islanders in exchange for Julien Gauthier. He will now join the Islanders organization and likely play for their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders.
Playing Style
Matt Luff is described as an offensive-minded forward who moves well despite his large size. At 6 feet 3 inches, he has good size for a winger, which helps him reach the high-scoring areas around the net.
Scouting reports indicate he is not a particularly physical player, preferring to use his skating and offensive skills rather than body checking. His strength lies in his ability to score goals and create offensive chances.
His best statistical seasons have come in the AHL, where he has consistently produced at close to a point-per-game pace when healthy. In the NHL, he has been more of a depth forward, though he has shown flashes of offensive ability.
Career Statistics Summary
Over his NHL career, Matt has played 111 games across five different organizations. He has scored 16 goals and 12 assists for 28 total points at the NHL level.
In the AHL, where he has spent most of his professional career, he has been much more productive. His offensive numbers in the minor leagues demonstrate why NHL teams continue to give him opportunities.
His estimated career earnings through professional hockey contracts total approximately $3.35 million according to contract tracking websites. This includes his entry-level contract, various two-way contracts, and AHL salaries.
Personal Life
Matt Luff keeps his personal life extremely private. There is no publicly available information about whether he is married, dating, or has children. He does not share personal details on social media or in interviews.
His ethnicity beyond being Canadian is not publicly disclosed. Information about his religion, if he practices one, is also not available in any public sources.
He is represented by agent Allan Walsh, who also represents several other NHL players.
Profile Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matt Luff |
| Birth Date | May 5, 1997 |
| Age | 28 years old |
| Birthplace | Oakville, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 6’3″ (190-191 cm) |
| Weight | 219 lbs (99 kg) |
| Position | Right Wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| Current Team | New York Islanders (acquired Feb 24, 2026) |
| NHL Draft | Undrafted |
| Agent | Allan Walsh |
| NHL Career | 2018-present |
| NHL Teams | Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders |
| Career NHL Games | 111 games |
| Career NHL Points | 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) |
| Current Contract | 1 year, $775,000 (expires 2026) |
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