A familiar name to Vancouver Island hockey fans is officially turning pro.
Former Victoria Grizzlies standout Matthew Wood has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Nashville Predators, the team announced this week.
The deal will begin with the 2024–25 season.
Wood, who hails from Nanaimo, played for the Victoria Grizzlies during the 2021–22 BCHL season, where he left an indelible mark on the franchise and the league.
In just 46 games that year, the dynamic forward scored an eye-popping 45 goals and added 40 assists for a league-leading 85 points—earning him both the Brett Hull Trophy as the BCHL’s top scorer and the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.
“We couldn’t be more excited to see Matthew take this next step,” the Grizzlies said in a statement. “His time in Victoria was short, but he had a massive impact on our organization.”
Wood made the leap to NCAA hockey at just 17-years-old, joining the University of Connecticut where he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
He posted 34 points in 35 games during his freshman year, which was enough to catch the eye of NHL scouts. The Nashville Predators selected him 15th overall in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, held at Bridgestone Arena.
He followed up his draft year with another strong NCAA campaign, this time notching 16 goals and 28 points. For his junior season, Wood transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he put up 39 points (17g, 22a) in 39 games—earning All-Big Ten Honourable Mention and helping the Golden Gophers to a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.
From selection to signed in Smashville ✍️ pic.twitter.com/meh3NXE5Fo
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 29, 2025
“Matthew had an exceptional college career, and we’re excited to welcome him to the Predators organization,” said General Manager Barry Trotz in a release. “He’s a big, skilled forward with a high hockey IQ and a scorer’s touch.”
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 205 pounds, Wood brings size, skill, and scoring ability to the Predators’ forward group. Over his three NCAA seasons, he recorded 101 points (44 goals, 57 assists) in 109 games.
Internationally, Wood has also donned the maple leaf with pride.
He represented Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championships, posting two goals and two assists in five games. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2023 U-18 World Championship with 13 points in 11 games and was part of Canada’s gold medal-winning squad at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
With his NCAA career now in the books and his contract signed, Wood is expected to report to the Predators organization in the coming days as he begins his professional journey.
From dominating the BCHL with the Victoria Grizzlies to skating with Team Canada on the international stage, Wood’s path has been impressive—and it’s only just beginning!
