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Matt Nieto Announces Retirement

Originally posted on Pro Hockey Rumors | By Ethan Hetu | Last updated Sep 28, 2026 3:29 PM ET

Veteran forward Matt Nieto announced his retirement from professional hockey today, ending a career that spanned 12 years and over 700 NHL games.

Nieto, 33, said that over the last few years, he’s “battled injuries that made playing hockey at the highest level difficult,” and has decided to step away from the game after taking a season off to prioritize his recovery and find a way to work his way back to full health.

A native of Long Beach, California, Nieto was an exceptional youth hockey player who was selected to the U.S. National Team Development Program.

After his time at the program, Nieto went to Boston University. In three seasons with the Terriers, Nieto became a star scorer, hovering around a point-per-game scoring pace in his sophomore and junior campaigns.

Nieto turned pro late in 2012-13, and in the fall of 2013, he managed to make the San Jose Sharks’ NHL roster. He ended up playing in 66 NHL games as a rookie professional, scoring 24 points. He made a name for himself in the playoffs, scoring two goals and five points in just seven games.

From that point forward, Nieto had made it as an NHLer, as a consistent bottom-six defensive forward for three different teams.

A regular face on the penalty kill, Nieto relied on his work ethic, defensive instincts, and ability to play bigger than his 5’11” frame might have suggested to stick in NHL lineups year after year.

Remarkably, despite the fact that he never scored more than 27 points in any single NHL campaign, Nieto spent almost the entirety of his professional career in the world’s top league. After breaking into the league with the Sharks, Nieto went a decade without appearing in the AHL.

While he was never the most impactful player, Nieto’s consistency, versatility, and work ethic allowed him to hold onto an NHL roster spot and fend off challenges for that spot, year after year.

When the games mattered most, Nieto was often able to make his mark. There is perhaps no better illustration of that than the 2018-19 season. That year, Nieto scored four goals in 64 regular season games for the Colorado Avalanche. In the playoffs, Nieto matched his regular-season goals total, scoring four goals and seven points in 12 postseason contests.

While it’s certainly unfortunate that the injuries Nieto suffered may have prematurely ended his career, he still managed to skate in over 700 games, which is an extremely impressive career outcome for a 5’11” forward without elite offensive skill.

We at PHR would like to extend our best wishes to Nieto and congratulate him on an exceptional playing career.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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