Denton Mateychuk Is Wasting No Time Making a Name for Himself in the AHL
Denton Mateychuk isn’t just adjusting to the pro game-he’s thriving in it. The 20-year-old defenseman has made a seamless transition from junior hockey to the AHL, and early returns with the Cleveland Monsters suggest the Blue Jackets may have something special on their hands.
In November alone, Mateychuk racked up five goals and 17 points in just 13 games. That offensive burst didn’t just lead the Monsters to a franchise-best 12-1-0 record for the month-it also earned him AHL Rookie of the Month honors and a well-deserved NHL call-up in late December.
Through the first two months of the season, he wasn’t just leading all AHL rookies in scoring-he was pacing the league’s defensemen, too. And remember, he’s only 20.
That’s the kind of early impact that turns heads in front offices and locker rooms alike.
Mateychuk’s rise isn’t coming out of nowhere. He captained the Moose Jaw Warriors to a WHL championship in 2023-24, putting up 30 points in 20 playoff games and collecting MVP and top-defenseman honors along the way. That playoff experience-those high-pressure, high-stakes moments-are already paying dividends at the next level.
“The biggest difference is in the details,” Mateychuk said. “There’s more risk management.
In junior, you can get away with jumping into the rush or hanging onto the puck a little longer. Here, you make a mistake, and someone’s making you pay for it.”
That awareness is exactly what you want to hear from a young defenseman. He’s not just relying on raw talent-he’s learning, adjusting, evolving.
And he got a crash course in the pro game last spring, when he joined Cleveland for their playoff run. He made his presence felt immediately, tallying three points in four games before the Monsters were eliminated by the eventual Calder Cup champs, the Hershey Bears.
But Mateychuk’s hockey journey started long before he was logging minutes in the AHL playoffs. It began in Dominion City, Manitoba-a tiny town with a population just north of 300, where hockey is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life.
Winters meant one thing: the rink was finally open. “It was like a holiday,” he said.
“We were champing at the bit to get out there.”
That early passion was nurtured at home. His mother, a figure skater and power-skating coach, played a huge role in his development.
“She’s awesome,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Hockey also runs in the family. Mateychuk is cousins with Owen Pickering, another 2022 first-round pick from Manitoba.
The two grew up playing together, and in July 2022, they shared a surreal moment at the NHL Draft in Montreal-Mateychuk going 12th overall, Pickering 21st. “To share that with him, it’s truly special,” he said.
That kind of grounding-family, community, and a love of the game-is evident in how Mateychuk carries himself. He’s focused, humble, and not getting ahead of himself.
Even off the ice, he’s found a way to unwind and recharge: fishing. “It’s something most people wouldn’t know about me,” he said.
“But I love it in the summer. And I hear there’s some good fishing here in Ohio.”
For now, the focus is on continuing to develop and contribute at the pro level. But if Mateychuk’s early AHL performance is any indication, the Blue Jackets have a blue-line gem in the making. He’s got the poise, the production, and the pedigree-and he’s just getting started.