Denton Mateychuk played his way into the NHL in his first professional season. It's only the beginning for the talented youngster. I think Columbus Blue Jackets insider Jeff Svoboda put it best near the end of the 2024-25 campaign when he wrote the below sentence:
"Mateychuk’s ceiling is high, and it seems fair to say he’s going to be an NHL defenseman for a long time."Jeff Svoboda
Like almost any other 20-year-old defenseman rookie headed into the National Hockey League following a stint in Major Juniors, the American Hockey League, or elsewhere; Denton experienced growing pains. He was prone to making big mistakes - the dreaded giveaways - in his own zone from time to time. His small size & stature made it easier for some bigger veterans to get a hold of the puck off his stick.
Despite that, Mateychuk always looked calm and composed, as if he had the confidence of an NHL veteran who had been in the league for a decade. Denton has never lacked confidence in his dealings and shows a leadership ability that his teammates rely on for structure. The former Moose Jaw Warriors captain has always relied upon during his previous stops to provide maturity and experience, no matter his young age or lack of long-term playing experience.
Denton finished his year in the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters with a 9-16-25 line in 27 games played. He also posted 5 points during the Monsters' brief Calder Cup Playoffs run after being sent back down at the end of the NHL season.
Following being called up part of the way through the NHL campaign, he finished at the big club level with 4-9-13 in 45 games, 20 penalty minutes, and a +4 rating. He finished in the top 100 of NHL defenseman in Expected High Danger Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes with a 3.18 and in the top half of the league in Expected Goals Against Per 60 with a 2.87, per our friends at Moneypuck.com.
On a hockey club that has been poor at best on the defensive end for well over a half decade at this point, Denton's poise and mostly intelligent play in the D-zone was a breath of fresh air for me and many other Jackets fans. This was normal in the years of play from mostly "Offensive Defenseman" on every pairing thanks to the roster construction techniques of former Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen.
So, what comes next for the highly regarded Blue Jackets prospect? Denton has two years left on his entry-level contract that he began during this year's campaign. He remains one of the best, if not the best, defenseman prospects that the CBJ have ever had in franchise history, perhaps second only to the great Zach Werenski.
I believe he projects as a long-term career option on the second pairing left-shot position for the Blue Jackets, but I think his ceiling may be even higher. He's shown maturity in his game, a drive to improve constantly, and an impressive work ethic that will continue to pay dividends for him in the National Hockey League. I'm confident that Mateychuk will be a part of the answer in Columbus, bringing this team to contention very soon.