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Dylan Samberg

Dylan Samberg
Samberg with the Winnipeg Jets in March 2024
Born (1999-01-24) January 24, 1999 (age 25)
Hermantown, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team Winnipeg Jets
National team  United States
NHL draft 43rd overall, 2017
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 2021–present

Dylan Michael Samberg (born January 24, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Growing up in Minnesota, Samberg made his way through the junior prep ranks before enrolling at Hermantown High School. During his time at the school, he captained their hockey team and led them to two Class A state hockey titles. In his senior year, Samberg was a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award and secured the Associated Press All-State (first team), All-Lake Superior Conference and Duluth News-Tribune All-Area honors. He then played 14 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League, recording five points, before being drafted 43rd overall by the Jets during the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Samberg played three seasons with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth before signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Jets in April 2020. Samberg immediately joined the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.

Early life

Samberg was born on January 24, 1999, in Hermantown, Minnesota[1] as the only child of parents Mike and Patty Samberg.[2] Samberg was a multi-sport athlete growing up; beyond hockey, he also played soccer, football, cross-country, baseball and golf.[3]

Playing career

Amateur

Growing up in Minnesota, Samberg made his way through the junior prep ranks before enrolling at Hermantown High School.[2] During his bantam year, he switched from forward to defence in order to make the team.[4] Although an ankle injury during his sophomore year forced him to miss most of the season, he improved in his junior year and led the team to the Class A state hockey title. After finishing the season with seven goals and 15 assists in 29 games, Samberg was drafted by the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[5] Samberg returned to the Hawks for his senior year where he again led the team to its second consecutive Minnesota Class A Tournament title by scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime to clinch the title. As a result of his play, Samberg was a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award and secured the Associated Press All-State (first team), All-Lake Superior Conference and Duluth News-Tribune All-Area honors.[2] Following the tournament, Samberg played 14 games with the Blackhawks and recorded five points and a plus-5 rating.[6]

Samberg's play during his junior and senior seasons earned him attention from National Hockey League (NHL) scouts. He was originally ranked as a fourth through sixth-rounder by NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSS) but quickly moved up the official lists throughout the 2016–17 season. His final CSS ranking was 67th amongst all North American skaters.[7] Before starting his collegiate career, Samberg was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets and participated in their development camp.[8]

College

Following the NHL Draft and the Jets' development camp, Samberg joined the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth for the 2017–18 season.[6] Midway through his freshman season, Samberg joined Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships,[9] where he helped them win a bronze medal.[10] At the time of the selection, Samberg had tallied four assists and a minus-5 rating in his first 19 games. Upon returning with a bronze medal, he scored his first collegiate goal and added eight assists to help the Bulldogs reach a second consecutive NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament.[11] Upon completing his freshman season, Samberg was again invited to participate at the Jets' summer development camp.[12]

Upon completing his junior season, Samberg concluded his collegiate career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Jets worth an average annual value of $1.175 million.[13]

Professional

In February 2021, Samberg was assigned to the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for the shortened 2020–21 season.[14] In his first professional season, Samberg tallied one goal and six assists through 32 games.[1]

In September 2021, Samberg suffered a high ankle sprain during the Jets' training camp and he was expected to miss six to eight weeks.[15] When he fully recovered, Samberg re-joined the Moose and became top defensive partners with Johnathan Kovacevic.[16] He eventually made his NHL debut on January 13, 2022, in a 3–0 win over the Detroit Red Wings.[17] Samberg played 17:52 in his debut and recorded his first career NHL point, an assist on Andrew Copp's first goal of the game.[18] He played six games with the Jets following his debut, recording two assists, before returning to the AHL. After returning to the Moose, Samberg continued his impressive offensive output as he tallied 12 assists through 32 games. He was eventually recalled on an emergency basis in April 2022.[19] In his first game back at the NHL level, Samberg assisted on both of Morgan Barron's goals to tally two secondary assists in the 4–2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.[20] Once the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention, Samberg returned to the Moose to assist in their 2022 Calder Cup playoffs push.[21]

On November 23, 2024, in a 4–1 loss to the Nashville Predators, Samberg suffered a broken foot from blocking a shot from Predators' forward Steven Stamkos, sidelining him for the forseeable future.[22]

Personal life

In November 2020, Samberg was involved in a three-vehicle collision in Minnesota after crashing his truck into a parked car on the shoulder of the highway.[23]


Samberg with the Team USA in May 2023
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2019 Canada
Bronze medal – third place 2018 United States

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Hermantown High USHS 11 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Hermantown High USHS 23 5 13 18 6 3 1 2 3 2
2016–17 Hermantown High USHS 25 10 18 28 43 3 0 2 2 2
2016–17 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 6 1 1 2 0 8 1 2 3 8
2017–18 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 42 1 12 13 43
2018–19 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 39 7 12 19 35
2019–20 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 16 0 5 5 14
2020–21 Manitoba Moose AHL 32 1 6 7 15
2021–22 Manitoba Moose AHL 32 0 12 12 26 5 0 1 1 0
2021–22 Winnipeg Jets NHL 15 0 5 5 4
2022–23 Winnipeg Jets NHL 63 2 6 8 25 5 0 0 0 8
2023–24 Winnipeg Jets NHL 78 1 17 18 43 5 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 156 3 28 31 72 10 0 0 0 8

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 United States WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 1 3 4 8
2019 United States WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 0 2 2 4
2023 United States WC 4th 10 1 3 4 4
Junior totals 14 1 5 6 12
Senior totals 10 1 3 4 4

References

  1. ^ a b "Dylan Samberg". Elite Prospects. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Dylan Samberg". University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Ates, Murat (January 13, 2022). "Dylan Samberg's journey to NHL debut for Jets began with his small-town roots". The Athletic. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  4. ^ Wiebe, Ken (June 28, 2017). "Risk paid off for Jets prospect Samberg". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  5. ^ Wellens, Matt (June 12, 2016). "Hawks' Samberg ices talk of leaving school team". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Hermantown High School Standout Samberg To Join Bulldogs For 2017-18 Season". University of Minnesota-Duluth. May 31, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Wellens, Matt (June 22, 2017). "College men's hockey: Hermantown native, Bulldogs incoming freshman Dylan Samberg moving up NHL Draft boards". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Billeck, Scott (July 16, 2017). "Samberg caps busy month at Jets development camp". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "United States names preliminary roster for 2018 world juniors". Sportsnet. December 5, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  10. ^ Blackburn, Pete (January 5, 2018). "Team USA dominates Czech Republic to win bronze at 2018 World Junior Championship". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  11. ^ Wellens, Matt (April 7, 2018). "Minnesota Duluth freshmen defensemen key to Frozen Four run". NCAA. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  12. ^ Wiebe, Ken (June 29, 2018). "JETS SNAPS: Samberg making things happen, Reichel signs AHL deal, Lee soaks in experience". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Samberg signs entry-level contract with Jets". National Hockey League. April 7, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  14. ^ "Jets Assign Heinola and Samberg to Moose". Manitoba Moose. February 12, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "Jets defenceman Dylan Samberg out six to eight weeks with ankle sprain". Sportsnet. September 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "Defenders form foundation of Moose's success". American Hockey League. December 14, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "Connor Hellebuyck stops 33 shots, Jets beat Red Wings 3-0". ESPN. January 13, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  18. ^ Clinton, Mitchell (January 15, 2022). "Chisholm, Samberg reflect on their NHL debuts". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  19. ^ "Jets Recall Samberg, Reassign Heinola to Moose". Manitoba Moose. April 7, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  20. ^ Clinton, Mitchell (April 11, 2022). "Barron seizes opportunity as Jets earn win in Montreal". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  21. ^ "Excitement building for Moose playoff run". National Hockey League. May 4, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  22. ^ Cory Wilkins (November 23, 2024). "Jets' Dylan Samberg suffers broken foot after blocking shot by Predators' Steven Stamkos". dailyfaceoff.com. Daily Faceoff. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  23. ^ Hobson, Russ (November 24, 2020). "Winnipeg Jets prospect Dylan Samberg involved in 3 vehicle crash in Minnesota". Global News. Retrieved January 13, 2022.