Mason Geertsen Explained

Mason Geertsen
Birth Date:19 April 1995
Birth Place:Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:5
Weight Lbs:230
Position:Defence / Left wing
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Vegas Golden Knights
Prospect Team:Henderson Silver Knights
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:New Jersey Devils
Draft:93rd overall
Draft Year:2013
Draft Team:Colorado Avalanche
Career Start:2015

Mason Geertsen (born April 19, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 93rd overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Geersten played bantam and midget hockey as a youth with the Leduc Oil Kings in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League and with the Sherwood Park Kings in the Alberta Midget Hockey League before joining major junior club, the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL), with whom he was drafted 18th overall in the first round of the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.

In the following 2016–17 season, Geertsen was assigned to continue with the Rampage, on October 1, 2016.[1] Used primarily in a defensive role adding physicality, Geertsen appeared in 36 games with the Rampage for 4 assists. He split the season again between the AHL and ECHL joining secondary affiliate, the Colorado Eagles in time for the postseason. Geersten remained with the club through the postseason, establishing a regular spot on the defence in recording 1 goal and 4 points in 19 games to help the Eagles capture their first Kelly Cup.[2]

As an impending restricted free agent following the conclusion of his entry-level contract, Geertsen's tenure with the Avalanche ended after he was not tendered a qualifying offer on June 25, 2019.[3] As a free agent over the summer, Geertsen was invited to attend the New York Rangers 2019 training camp. After a successful camp, Geertsen was among the Rangers second round of cuts and was signed to a one-year AHL contract with affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on September 29, 2019.[4] [5]

In the 2019–20 season, Geertsen established a role within the Wolf Pack's blueline as a physical stay-at-home defenceman, appearing in 60 regular season games and leading the club with 109 penalty minutes, before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 23, 2020, Geertsen was signed to remain within the Wolf Pack organization, agreeing to a one-year contract extension.[6]

Entering the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, Geersten registered one assist through four games before he was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the NHL affiliate, the New York Rangers, on March 4, 2021.[7]

On October 3, 2021, Geertsen was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils.[8] He made his NHL debut on October 19, 2021, in a game against the Seattle Kraken.[9] He would play 25 games for the Devils that season, and on July 13, 2022, he signed a one-year contract extension at league minimum salary to stay with New Jersey.[10]

Geertsen spent the 2022–23 season with the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, where he set AHL career highs of 4 goals and 136 penalty minutes.

As a free agent from the Devils, Geertsen was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1, 2023.[11]

International play

Geertsen represented Canada Pacific at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ontario. He was scoreless in five games from the blueline in a fifth place finish.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2010–11Sherwood Park KingsAMHL313710841012324
2010–11Edmonton Oil KingsWHL30002
2011–12Edmonton Oil KingsWHL3403370
2012–13Edmonton Oil KingsWHL1504432
2012–13Vancouver GiantsWHL58281098
2013–14Vancouver GiantsWHL6641923126400014
2014–15Vancouver GiantsWHL69132538107
2014–15Lake Erie MonstersAHL90002
2015–16San Antonio RampageAHL4208862
2015–16Fort Wayne KometsECHL21134181403315
2016–17San Antonio RampageAHL3604452
2016–17Colorado EaglesECHL9055141913442
2017–18San Antonio RampageAHL72369117
2018–19Colorado EaglesAHL583131613440008
2019–20Hartford Wolf PackAHL60088109
2020–21Hartford Wolf PackAHL2032543
2021–22New Jersey DevilsNHL2500077
2022–23Utica CometsAHL6144813640224
2023–24Henderson Silver KnightsAHL58606108
NHL totals2500077

International

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
Ed Chynoweth Cup champion2012
ECHL
Kelly Cup champion2017

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Avalanche makes roster moves before facing Kings . . 2016-10-01 . 2016-10-01.
  2. Web site: Colorado Eagles sweep South Carolina to win first Kelly Cup . . 2017-06-05 . 2017-06-05.
  3. Web site: Andrighetto not qualified by Avalanche . coloradohockeynow.com . June 25, 2019 . June 25, 2019.
  4. Web site: Wolf Pack sign defenseman Mason Geertsen . . September 29, 2019 . September 29, 2019.
  5. Web site: Rangers reduce training camp roster by four . . September 20, 2019 . September 20, 2019.
  6. WolfPackAHL . 1253363877154377729 . April 23, 2020 . SIGNED - Defensemen, @Vincent_LoVerde and @geertsy44 have signed an AHL contract extension with the Pack for the 2020/21 season. Happy to have you both back Hartford!.
  7. Web site: Rangers Agree to Terms with Defenseman Mason Geertsen . NHL.com . March 4, 2021 . March 4, 2021.
  8. Web site: Kasan . Sam . Geertsen Claimed by Devils on Waivers . NHL.com . October 4, 2021 . October 3, 2021.
  9. Web site: Geertsen makes NHL debut . 2023-06-27 . www.echl.com . en.
  10. Web site: 2022-07-13 . New Jersey Devils Sign Four Players . 2023-06-27 . Pro Hockey Rumors . en-US.
  11. GoldenKnights . 1675287018149117952 . July 1, 2023 . NEWS: The Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to terms with Mason Geertsen and Mason Morelli on two-year contracts, respectively. Welcome to the organization, guys! #VegasBorn . October 1, 2023.