Michael Pezzetta
Michael Pezzetta (born March 13, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Pezzetta was selected by the Canadiens with the 160th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
| Michael Pezzetta | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
13 March 1998 Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team | Montreal Canadiens | ||
| NHL Draft |
160th overall, 2016 Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||
Playing career
Originally selected 11th Overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, Pezzetta made his OHL debut during the 2014-15 season.[1] On January 9, 2018, during his overage season with Sudbury, Pezzetta was traded to the Sarnia Sting.[2] Pezzetta signed an entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on March 7, 2018[3] and would make his professional debut during the 2018–19 season with the Laval Rocket.
During the 2021–22 season, on November 1, 2021, Pezzetta was recalled by the Montreal Canadiens and made his NHL debut the following night versus the Detroit Red Wings.[4] In his rookie season with the Canadiens, Pezzetta collected 5 goals and 6 assists in 51 games for 11 points, and led the team in penalty minutes with 81.[5] In the midst of a terrible season for the team, Pezzetta endeared himself to many fans with his effort.[6]
Pezzetta signed a one-year, $750,000 deal to remain with the Canadiens for the 2022–23 season.[5] Initially seeing little ice time as the team's thirteenth forward, a spate of injuries eventually moved him regularly into the lineup again. Appearing in 63 games, he managed 7 goals and 8 assists, while leading the team in hits (239) and with the most penalty minutes among team forwards.[7] Pezzetta drew headlines for scoring the shootout-winning goal in a March 27, 2023 game against the Buffalo Sabres and then celebrating in the style made famous by David "Tiger" Williams.[8][9]
On June 2, 2023, Pezzetta signed a new two-year contract with the Canadiens. He expressed enthusiasm for the organization, saying "there's so much history and the fans are wild and it's such a loud and just fun atmosphere to be a part of. You want to stick around in this atmosphere for as long as you can."[10][11]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2014–15 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 61 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 64 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 54 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 88 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 17 | ||
| 2017–18 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 35 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Sarnia Sting | OHL | 27 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 26 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | ||
| 2018–19 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 55 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Maine Mariners | ECHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 32 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 20 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 51 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 63 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 114 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 158 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
References
- "Wolves Sign Pezzetta". Sudbury Wolves. May 31, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- "TRADE ALERT: Sting Add High Compete & Experience in Michael Pezzetta". Sarnia Sting. January 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- "Canadiens agree to terms with Pezzetta, Bitten". Montreal Canadiens. March 7, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- "DET@MTL: Game Recap". NHL.com. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- "One-year contract extension for Michael Pezzetta". NHL.com. July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- Stephens, Mike (July 11, 2022). "Canadiens sign Pezzetta to one-year extension". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- "Canadiens sign Pezzetta to two-year contract extension". Sportsnet. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- Cowan, Stu (March 27, 2023). "Pezzetta pays tribute to Tiger Williams with his shootout celebration". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- "Tigers Williams on Michael Pezzetta's celebration: 'I should've given him a lesson before he did it'". Sportsnet. March 29, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- Cowan, Stu (June 2, 2023). "Canadiens' new two-year deal with Michael Pezzetta is a win for both sides". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- "Michael Pezzetta: "I love it here"". NHL.com. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com