Michael Eyssimont (born September 9, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the fifth round, 142nd overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
| Mikey Eyssimont | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Eyssimont playing with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023. | |||
| Born | September 9, 1996 Littleton, Colorado, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Center / Left wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Tampa Bay Lightning Winnipeg Jets San Jose Sharks | ||
| National team |  United States | ||
| NHL draft | 142nd overall, 2016 Los Angeles Kings | ||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||
Early life
editEyssimont was born on September 9, 1996, in Littleton, Colorado,[1] to George and Nancy Eyssimont.[2] He began playing street hockey after being gifted a pair of rollerblades for his fifth birthday.[3] He began playing ice hockey when he was eight and would continue playing roller hockey in the warmer months until he turned 13. Eyssimont spent his minor ice hockey career with the Colorado Thunderbirds of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.[4] He led the league in scoring during the 2012–13 season with 48 goals and 43 assists in 40 games.[5]
Playing career
editJunior
editAfter leaving the Thunderbirds, Eyssimont began his junior ice hockey career with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL). During the 2013–14 season, he scored 14 goals and 30 points in 58 games for Fargo. He followed this with 17 goals and 36 points during the 2014–15 season before a March 2015 trade to the Sioux Falls Stampede.[6] After the trade, Eyssimont added another 13 points in 14 regular season games for Sioux Falls.[7] He helped the Stampede capture the 2015 Clark Cup with a team-leading 16 points (seven goals and nine assists) in 19 postseason games.[8]
Collegiate
editEyssimont committed to play college ice hockey for the St. Cloud State Huskies while he was still playing for the Thunderbirds.[5] Joining the team for the 2015–16 college hockey season, Eyssimont recorded his first NCAA Division I goal on October 31, 2015, when St. Cloud State defeated the Miami RedHawks 3–1.[9] In January, Eyssimont scored three goals in the North Star College Cup and was named the tournament's most valuable player.[10] He was also named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Offensive Player of the Week and the NCAA Hockey #2 Star of the Week for his performance in the tournament.[11][12] Eyssimont's North Star performance was part of a month in which he had 14 points in 10 games, and he was named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for his performance.[13] Eyssimont scored the game-winning goal in St. Cloud State's 3–1 defeat of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at the 2016 NCHC Tournament, giving the Huskies their first ever tournament championship. He was named both the NCHC Frozen Faceoff MVP and a member of the All-Tournament team.[14] The Huskies then advanced to the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, where they were eliminated by Ferris State in the West Regional.[15] Eyssimont finished his freshman season with 14 goals and 33 points. That June, the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected him in the fifth round, 142nd overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.[16]
As a sophomore during the 2016–17 college hockey season, Eyssimont had 14 goals and 30 points in 36 games. Prior to the 2017–18 season, Eyssimont suffered medical issues caused by dietary sensitivities. After being hospitalized for these issues, he adopted a gluten- and dairy-free diet.[17] After overcoming the illness, Eyssimont scored 21 points in his first 19 games with St. Cloud, and he picked up in the final stretch of the season.[18] He finished his junior season with 17 goals and 39 points in 39 games. In 115 games across three seasons of college ice hockey, Eyssimont finished with 45 goals and 57 assists.[19]
Professional
editAfter the Huskies were eliminated from the 2018 NCAA tournament, Eyssimont signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Kings.[20] He spent those two seasons with the Ontario Reign, the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, where he recorded 22 goals and 49 points in 122 games. On October 5, 2020, Eyssimont signed a one-year contract extension with the Los Angeles club.[21]
On July 28, 2021, the Winnipeg Jets signed Eyssimont to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.5 million.[22] He was assigned to the Manitoba Moose, the Jets' AHL affiliate, to begin the season. After scoring 15 goals and 35 points in 35 games for the Moose during the 2021–22 season, Eyssimont was promoted to the NHL on April 11 as a fill-in for the injured Blake Wheeler.[23] He was sent back down to the Moose on April 17.[24]
During the 2022–23 season, on November 6, 2022, Eyssimont was promoted to the NHL by the Jets after recording nine points in as many games.[25] Eyssimont remained on the Jets roster, featuring in 19 games and contributing with one goal and four assists, before he was placed on waivers by Jets and subsequently claimed by the San Jose Sharks on January 6, 2023.[26] On March 1, the Sharks traded Eyssimont to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Vladislav Namestnikov.[27] On April 27, Eyssimount picked up his first playoff point versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.[citation needed]
Personal life
editEyssimont has a twin sister named Anastasia, who planned to become a professional gymnast before suffering a career-ending elbow injury.[28] After being diagnosed with Crohn's disease while attending St. Cloud State, Eyssimont has become involved with charity organizations offering support for the disease.[29]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2012–13 | Colorado Thunderbirds 16U AAA | T1EHL 16U | 24 | 19 | 16 | 35 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Fargo Force | USHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Fargo Force | USHL | 58 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Fargo Force | USHL | 46 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Sioux Falls Stampede | USHL | 14 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 20 | ||
| 2015–16 | St. Cloud State University | NCHC | 40 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | St. Cloud State University | NCHC | 36 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | St. Cloud State University | NCHC | 39 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 63 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 56 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 40 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 49 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 58 | 18 | 24 | 42 | 90 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2021–22 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 19 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 20 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 81 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 104 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 136 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 167 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | United States | WC | 4th | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 29 | |
| 2024 | United States | WC | 5th | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Senior totals | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 29 | ||||
Awards and honors
edit| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| North Star College Cup Most Valuable Player | 2016 | [10] |
| NCHC Frozen Faceoff Most Valuable Player | 2016 | [14] |
| NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team | 2016 | [14] |
References
edit- ^ "Michael Eyssimont Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ Bayee, Chris (July 26, 2016). "Eyssimont, Clurman Add to Growing List of NHL Prospects". Colorado Rubber. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ Murphy, Chris (October 2, 2014). "Force's Eyssimont hooked on skating from the get-go". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ Hatten, Mick (January 14, 2016). "Men's hockey: SCSU's Eyssimont is finding his way". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Dilks, Chris (February 20, 2013). "Mikey Eyssimont Commits to St. Cloud State". SB Nation. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Olander, Jim (March 3, 2015). "Stampede acquire Fargo's top scorer Eyssimont". United States Hockey League. Sioux Falls Stampede. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Garry, Mick (February 8, 2015). "Stampede bank on late risers in playoff run". Argus Leader. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Olander, Jim (June 25, 2016). "Mikey Eyssimont selected by L.A. Kings in NHL Draft". United States Hockey League. Sioux Falls Stampede. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "#13/14 St. Cloud State gains sweep over #14/15 Miami". St. Cloud State Huskies. October 31, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ a b "#3 SCSU men's hockey wins North Star Cup championship". St. Cloud State Huskies. January 31, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "SCSU's Eyssimont named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week". St. Cloud State Huskies. February 1, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "SCSU's Eyssimont named NCAA #2 Star of the Week". St. Cloud State Huskies. February 2, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "Benik and Eyssimont earn NCHC Player of the Month honors". St. Cloud State Huskies. February 3, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c "St. Cloud State men's hockey claims 2016 NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship". St. Cloud State Huskies. March 19, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "St. Cloud State men's hockey falls by 5–4 decision in OT at NCAA Regional". St. Cloud State Huskies. March 26, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "St. Cloud State recruit selected #20 in 2016 NHL draft". St. Cloud State Huskies. June 24, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Hatten, Mick (October 12, 2017). "SCSU's Eyssimont returns after hospitalization, time off because of illness". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Hatten, Mick (March 15, 2018). "NCHC Frozen Faceoff: Eyssimont overcomes health scare to lead SCSU in goals". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Hatten, Mick (March 29, 2018). "SCSU's Eyssimont signs 2-year deal with L.A. Kings, skips senior season". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "St. Cloud State Leading Goal Scorer Mikey Eyssimont Signs 2-Year Deal". National Hockey League. Los Angeles Kings. March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "LA Kings Sign Eyssimont and Luff to Contract Extensions". National Hockey League. Los Angeles Kings. October 5, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "Jets sign forward Mikey Eyssimont to a two-year contract". National Hockey League. Winnipeg Jets. July 28, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- ^ Schroeder, Declan (April 12, 2022). "Jets' Prospects Getting NHL Opportunities as Season Winds Down". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- ^ "Jets' Mikey Eyssimont: Sent down by Jets". CBS Sports. RotoWire. April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "Jets' Mikey Eyssimont: Back in NHL". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Sharks claim Mikey Eyysimont off waivers". San Jose Sharks. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Lightning acquire forward Michael Eyssimont from San Jose". National Hockey League. Tampa Bay Lightning. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ Halverson, Brian (December 15, 2015). "The Colorado Kid". Minnesota Hockey. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ Avampato, Sarah (March 25, 2019). "Mikey Eyssimont, Ontario Reign support Athletes vs. Crohn's & Colitis with upcoming 5K race". Jewels from the Crown. SB Nation. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- St. Cloud State University biography