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Matthew Stienburg looking to restart NHL career with Canucks after two seasons lost to injury

Photo credit: Daily Faceoff Vancouver

By Jeff Paterson

Sep 18, 2026, 18:25 EDTUpdated: Sep 18, 2026, 18:28 EDT

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If one player at Vancouver Canucks camp could use some puck luck, it’s Matthew Stienburg.

Due to a pair of season-ending surgeries, the 25-year-old Halifax native has been limited to just 21 games over the past 24 months. In that time, however, Stienburg made his National Hockey League debut with the Colorado Avalanche and played eight games early in the 2024-25 season.

A rambunctious, energetic player when at his best, Stienburg sought a fresh start this summer and signed as a free agent with the Canucks. While a long shot to make the hockey club out of training camp, the right winger believes he has what it takes to eventually work his way back to the highest level of hockey.

“Two years ago things were going well, and then an unfortunate injury kept me out for five or six months,” Stienburg explained after the opening day of camp in Penticton. “Then I got back last year after a good summer, and a separate new injury came up there in a game. And by the time we really figured out the best plan of attack, it took me to the summer again. So it was a matter of two separate injuries that required a long time to return.”

The downside for a hockey player recovering from two separate surgeries is obvious. It’s a lot of long days in the gym working with the training staff while teammates get to play. If there is any kind of silver lining to the past two difficult seasons for Stienburg, however, it’s that his body has fully healed now and he’s hungrier than ever to make up for lost time.

“I’m going to play in straight lines and forecheck and try to finish all my hits,” he said when asked to describe his play style. “If there’s an opportunity offensively, I’d like to think I can take advantage. I think it’s those little details of being physical and being in the right spots. Bringing a consistent presence when I’m out there. But definitely straight lines and a physical presence.”

Stienburg turned pro after three seasons at Cornell University and produced five goals and 13 points, along with 63 penalty minutes, in his first season with the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles.

That next season, the 6’1”, 182-pounder failed to make the Avalanche opening night roster, but a week into the NHL season got the call he had been waiting for. And in his NHL debut, the fiery forward tried to announce his arrival by fighting former Canuck Nikita Zadorov.

Two weeks later, in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Stienburg received a charging major and a game misconduct. The NHL subsequently suspended him for a pair of games. When he returned from suspension, he was reassigned to the minors and suffered a season-ending injury in his first game back.

“I felt really good during that stint,” he recalled. “In those eight games, I felt I was able to bring a different look to that team than maybe what they had. It was encouraging, but obviously it’s been a little bit of time since then. I’m just trying to get back to that point and bring that style and competitiveness to Vancouver.”

Through the first two days in the South Okanagan, Stienburg has skated on a line with Chase Wouters and Vilmer Alriksson. It’s conceivable that’s a line he could play on in Abbotsford to start the new season.

Due to his combative style and competitive nature, the Canucks feel Stienburg is the kind of player worth taking a flyer on. They believe he has something and want to see if he can reclaim the form he had not long ago.

Given his style of play and where the Canucks organization is in the early stages of a rebuild, Stienburg sees an opportunity here. But he knows what he needs more than anything is a long stretch of good health and plenty of game action.

“Just given that situation I’ve been in, I had a great three years in Colorado all things considered, but it’s a bit of a different point from here compared to Colorado with what they’re trying to do and what they’re looking for,” he said. “I felt there was potential of opportunity here if I can get my game back to where it was. Trying to establish a new foundation and new culture is something I take pride in and hopefully something I can contribute to. Personally, I’m just looking forward to playing hockey again and competing out there with my teammates. If that’s starting in Abbotsford, I’m just excited to be back out there.”

It’s been a difficult past two seasons for Matthew Stienburg, but he wants to believe those dark days are behind him now, and he can work his way back to the NHL.

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