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Michael Pezzetta

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Michael Pezzetta
Born (1998-03-13) 13 March 1998 (age 26)
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

Michael Pezzetta (born March 13, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the sixth round, 160th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2016 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

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Junior

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Originally selected 11th overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2014 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection draft, Pezzetta made his OHL debut during the 2014–15 season.[1] During his overage season with Sudbury, he was traded to the Sarnia Sting on January 9, 2018.[2]

Professional

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Following his OHL career, Pezzetta signed a three-year, 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 Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.[4]

During the 2021–22 season, Pezzetta was recalled by the Canadiens and made his NHL debut versus the Detroit Red Wings on November 2, 2021.[5] In his rookie season with the Canadiens, he collected five goals and six assists across 51 games played, and led the team in penalty minutes (PIM) with 81.[6] In the midst of a terrible season for the team overall,[7] Pezzetta endeared himself to many fans with his passionate style of play.[8]

In advance of the 2022–23 season, he signed a one-year, $750,000 deal to remain with the Canadiens organization.[6] Initially seeing limited ice time as the team's thirteenth forward, a spate of injuries eventually moved him regularly into the lineup. Appearing in 63 games, Pezzetta managed seven goals and eight assists, while leading the team in hits (239) and total PIM amongst team forwards.[9] In a March 27, 2023 game against the Buffalo Sabres, he drew headlines for scoring the shootout-winning goal and then celebrating in the style made famous by notable NHL enforcer, Tiger Williams.[10][11]

On June 2, 2023, Pezzetta was signed to a two-year extension 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."[12][13]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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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 — — — — —
2023–24 Montreal Canadiens NHL 61 3 9 12 59 — — — — —
NHL totals 175 15 23 38 217 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Canada White U17 5th 5 0 2 2 2
Junior totals 5 0 2 2 2

References

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  1. ^ "Wolves Sign Pezzetta". Sudbury Wolves. May 31, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2021 – via CHL.ca.
  2. ^ "TRADE ALERT: Sting Add High Compete & Experience in Michael Pezzetta". Sarnia Sting. January 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2021 – via CHL.ca.
  3. ^ "Canadiens agree to terms with Pezzetta, Bitten". Montreal Canadiens. March 7, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2021 – via NHL.com.
  4. ^ "THREE MARINERS HEADED TO AHL". Maine Mariners. October 29, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "DET@MTL: Game Recap". Montreal Canadiens. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021 – via NHL.com.
  6. ^ a b "One-year contract extension for Michael Pezzetta". Montreal Canadiens. July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  7. ^ Potvin, Blain (April 30, 2022). "Montreal Canadiens 2021–22 Season: Learning Lessons in Failure". TheHockeyWriters.com. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  8. ^ Stephens, Mike (July 11, 2022). "Canadiens sign Pezzetta to one-year extension". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "Canadiens sign Pezzetta to two-year contract extension". Sportsnet.ca. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  10. ^ Cowan, Stu (March 27, 2023). "Pezzetta pays tribute to Tiger Williams with his shootout celebration". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "Tigers Williams on Michael Pezzetta's celebration: 'I should've given him a lesson before he did it'". Sportsnet.ca. March 29, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Michael Pezzetta: "I love it here"". Montreal Canadiens. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023 – via NHL.com.
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