Mikey Eyssimont Explained

Mikey Eyssimont
Birth Date:9 September 1996
Birth Place:Littleton, Colorado, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:201
Position:Center / Left wing
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Tampa Bay Lightning
Former Teams:Winnipeg Jets
San Jose Sharks
Ntl Team:USA
Draft:142nd overall
Draft Year:2016
Draft Team:Los Angeles Kings
Career Start:2018

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.

Early life

Eyssimont 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.

Playing career

Junior

After 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.[5] After the trade, Eyssimont added another 13 points in 14 regular season games for Sioux Falls.[6] He helped the Stampede capture the 2015 Clark Cup with a team-leading 16 points (seven goals and nine assists) in 19 postseason games.[7]

Collegiate

Eyssimont committed to play college ice hockey for the St. Cloud State Huskies while he was still playing for the Thunderbirds.[8] 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

After 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.

Personal life

Eyssimont 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

Regular season and playoffs

Team LeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Colorado Thunderbirds 16U AAA T1EHL 16U24 19 16 35 24
USHL4 0 0 0 0
Fargo Force USHL58 14 16 30 64
Fargo Force USHL46 17 19 36 46
2014–15 USHL14 5 8 13 1612 7 9 16 20
NCHC40 14 19 33 20
St. Cloud State University NCHC36 14 16 30 20
St. Cloud State University NCHC39 17 22 39 30
AHL3 0 1 1 0
Ontario Reign AHL63 10 10 20 47
Ontario Reign AHL56 12 16 28 70
Ontario Reign AHL40 9 8 17 491 1 1 2 0
AHL58 18 24 42 905 1 0 1 4
NHL1 0 0 0 0
Manitoba Moose AHL9 2 7 9 27
Winnipeg Jets NHL19 1 4 5 7
2022–23 NHL20 3 5 8 34
2022–23 NHL15 1 1 2 223 1 1 2 0
Tampa Bay Lightning NHL81 11 14 25 1045 0 0 0 2
NHL totals136 16 24 40 1678 1 1 2 2

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2023United StatesWC4th912329
2024United StatesWC5th81010
Senior totals 1722429

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
College
North Star College Cup Most Valuable Player2016
NCHC Frozen Faceoff Most Valuable Player2016
NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team2016

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michael Eyssimont Stats and News . . April 12, 2022.
  2. News: Bayee . Chris . Eyssimont, Clurman Add to Growing List of NHL Prospects . Colorado Rubber . July 26, 2016 . April 12, 2022.
  3. News: Murphy . Chris . Force's Eyssimont hooked on skating from the get-go . . October 2, 2014 . April 12, 2022.
  4. News: Hatten . Mick . Men's hockey: SCSU's Eyssimont is finding his way . . January 14, 2016 . April 12, 2022 . limited.
  5. News: Olander . Jim . Stampede acquire Fargo's top scorer Eyssimont . . . March 3, 2015 . April 18, 2022.
  6. News: Garry . Mick . Stampede bank on late risers in playoff run . . February 8, 2015 . April 18, 2022.
  7. News: Olander . Jim . Mikey Eyssimont selected by L.A. Kings in NHL Draft . United States Hockey League . Sioux Falls Stampede . June 25, 2016 . April 18, 2022.
  8. News: Dilks . Chris . Mikey Eyssimont Commits to St. Cloud State . . February 20, 2013 . April 18, 2022.
  9. News: #13/14 St. Cloud State gains sweep over #14/15 Miami . St. Cloud State Huskies . October 31, 2015 . April 18, 2022.
  10. News: #3 SCSU men's hockey wins North Star Cup championship . St. Cloud State Huskies . January 31, 2016 . April 18, 2022.
  11. News: SCSU's Eyssimont named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week . St. Cloud State Huskies . February 1, 2016 . April 18, 2022.
  12. News: SCSU's Eyssimont named NCAA #2 Star of the Week . St. Cloud State Huskies . February 2, 2016 . April 18, 2022.
  13. News: Benik and Eyssimont earn NCHC Player of the Month honors . St. Cloud State Huskies . February 3, 2016 . April 18, 2022.
  14. News: St. Cloud State men's hockey claims 2016 NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship . St. Cloud State Huskies . March 19, 2016 . April 18, 2022.
  15. News: St. Cloud State men's hockey falls by 5–4 decision in OT at NCAA Regional . St. Cloud State Huskies . March 26, 2016 . April 18, 2022.
  16. News: St. Cloud State recruit selected #20 in 2016 NHL draft . St. Cloud State Huskies . June 24, 2016 . April 18, 2022.
  17. News: Hatten . Mick . SCSU's Eyssimont returns after hospitalization, time off because of illness . St. Cloud Times . October 12, 2017 . April 18, 2022 . limited.
  18. News: Hatten . Mick . NCHC Frozen Faceoff: Eyssimont overcomes health scare to lead SCSU in goals . St. Cloud Times . March 15, 2018 . April 18, 2022 . limited.
  19. News: Hatten . Mick . SCSU's Eyssimont signs 2-year deal with L.A. Kings, skips senior season . St. Cloud Times . March 29, 2018 . April 18, 2022 . limited.
  20. News: St. Cloud State Leading Goal Scorer Mikey Eyssimont Signs 2-Year Deal . National Hockey League . . March 29, 2018 . April 12, 2022.
  21. News: LA Kings Sign Eyssimont and Luff to Contract Extensions . National Hockey League . Los Angeles Kings . October 5, 2020 . April 18, 2022.
  22. News: Jets sign forward Mikey Eyssimont to a two-year contract . National Hockey League . . July 28, 2021 . April 13, 2022.
  23. News: Schroeder . Declan . Jets' Prospects Getting NHL Opportunities as Season Winds Down . The Hockey Writers . April 12, 2022 . April 13, 2022.
  24. News: Jets' Mikey Eyssimont: Sent down by Jets . . . April 17, 2022 . April 18, 2022.
  25. Web site: Jets' Mikey Eyssimont: Back in NHL . December 4, 2022 . CBSSports.com.
  26. Web site: Sharks claim Mikey Eyysimont off waivers . . January 6, 2023 . January 6, 2023.
  27. News: Lightning acquire forward Michael Eyssimont from San Jose . National Hockey League . . March 1, 2023 . March 1, 2023.
  28. News: Halverson . Brian . The Colorado Kid . Minnesota Hockey . December 15, 2015 . April 12, 2022.
  29. News: Avampato . Sarah . Mikey Eyssimont, Ontario Reign support Athletes vs. Crohn's & Colitis with upcoming 5K race . Jewels from the Crown . . March 25, 2019 . April 12, 2022.