Ben Chiarot Bio
Ben Chiarot (born May 9, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 120th overall, by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 234 pounds, Chiarot is known for his physical presence on the blue line and his willingness to play a heavy, defensive game.
Across his career, Chiarot has represented four NHL franchises, including the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, and Florida Panthers, before joining Detroit. He has been recognized for logging heavy minutes in important situations, including a deep playoff run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals with Montreal.
Early Life and Background
Chiarot was born on May 9, 1991, in Hamilton, Ontario, to Tara and Matt Chiarot. He grew up in a family with deep ties to Canadian sport, though not initially in hockey. His grandfather, Gord Chiarot, played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and both his father and uncle played college football at McMaster University. Despite this football lineage, Chiarot’s father refused to allow him to play football as a child, steering him toward ice hockey instead.
Chiarot channeled his athletic energy into hockey, playing minor hockey as a defenceman for the Mississauga IceDogs of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. In his final season with the team, he recorded 22 goals and 64 points in 75 regular season games, along with five points in seven OHL Cup games, signaling that he was ready for the next level of competition.
Path to Hockey
Chiarot played major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Guelph Storm, Sudbury Wolves, and Saginaw Spirit, gaining experience across multiple organizations as a young defenceman. His steady development in junior caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was selected 120th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Following his draft year, Chiarot continued to refine his game in junior and made his professional debut during the 2009–10 season with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. The transition to professional hockey required adjustment, but his physical tools and defensive instincts gave him a clear path toward an NHL opportunity.
Ben Chiarot Career
Early Career (2010–2014)
On March 16, 2011, the Atlanta Thrashers signed Chiarot to an entry-level contract, officially launching his NHL tenure. After the franchise relocated to become the Winnipeg Jets, Chiarot continued his development in the American Hockey League with the St. John’s IceCaps. His strong play at the minor-league level earned him another opportunity at the NHL level.
On July 23, 2014, Chiarot signed a two-way deal worth $600,000 with the Jets, marking his arrival as a full-time NHL contributor. He scored his first NHL goal on January 3, 2015, in a 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, a milestone that cemented his place in the league.
Winnipeg Jets Tenure (2011–2019)
Chiarot spent the first eight seasons of his professional career within the Thrashers and Jets franchise system, working his way from a depth defenceman into a trusted bottom-pairing option. On June 18, 2015, the Winnipeg Jets re-signed Chiarot to a two-year, $1.7 million contract extension, rewarding his consistency and physicality. He became a regular on the Jets’ blue line, valued for his penalty killing and shot-blocking ability.
On June 24, 2017, Chiarot signed another two-year extension worth $2.8 million, with an annual average value of $1.4 million, reflecting his growth into a reliable two-way defender. He was a steady presence on the Jets’ backend heading into the final year of that contract.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2019–2022)
After spending his first eight professional seasons in the Thrashers and Jets organization, Chiarot left as a free agent following the 2018–19 season and signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 4, 2019. He scored his first goal with Montreal on October 9, 2019, in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres, and went on to set a new personal best with 9 goals and 12 assists in 69 games during his first season with the club.
Chiarot assumed an increasingly prominent role in the Canadiens’ defense corps over the course of his contract. In 2021, he played a central part in Montreal’s surprising run to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Chiarot led the Canadiens in ice time during that playoff run and later reflected on reaching the Finals as the pinnacle of his hockey experience. Entering the final season of his contract, he became the subject of trade speculation ahead of the 2022 deadline.
Florida Panthers Stint (2022)
On March 16, 2022, Chiarot was traded by the Canadiens to the Florida Panthers in exchange for prospect Tyler Smilanic, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2022 fourth-round pick. He made his Panthers debut on March 24 against his former Montreal teammates, registering his first assist with the club in a 4-3 Florida victory. The Panthers won the Presidents’ Trophy with the NHL’s best regular season record, and Chiarot quickly assumed a prominent role in their defense corps.
Chiarot played a key role in Florida’s first-round playoff series victory over the Washington Capitals, helping the Panthers advance to the second round for the first time in a quarter century. During that second-round matchup, Chiarot was fined for head-butting Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ross Colton in Game 1, and the Panthers were eventually swept by Tampa Bay, ending their playoff run.
Detroit Red Wings Era (2022–Present)
On July 13, 2022, Chiarot signed a four-year, $19 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings, signaling the organization’s intent to add a veteran, physical presence to its defense. He joined a young Red Wings team looking to take the next step in its competitive rebuild, bringing postseason experience from his run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.
Now in the heart of his Detroit contract, Chiarot continues to be relied upon as a stabilizing top-four defenceman and a leader in the dressing room. His combination of size, shot-blocking, and penalty-killing experience has made him a fixture in the Red Wings’ defensive rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chiarot is recognized as a steady, physical defenceman who excels in defensive-zone coverage, penalty killing, and shot-blocking. His 6-foot-3 frame allows him to win board battles and clear the front of the net, while his hockey IQ and experience have made him a trusted penalty-killer and a steady presence in high-pressure playoff situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Chiarot’s career are his first NHL goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015, his leadership of the Canadiens in ice time during their 2021 Stanley Cup Finals run, and his trade-day debut against his former team shortly after joining the Florida Panthers in March 2022.
Ben Chiarot Career Wins
Across his NHL career, Ben Chiarot has been a steady contributor rather than a high-volume goal-scorer, building a reputation as a reliable two-way defenceman. His most important win came as part of the Montreal Canadiens’ run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, where his heavy minutes helped push the team to within four wins of the championship.
NHL Highlights
Chiarot’s personal best offensive season came in 2019–20, when he set career highs with 9 goals and 12 assists in 69 games for the Montreal Canadiens. He also played a leading role in the Panthers’ first-round playoff series win over the Washington Capitals in 2022, helping end a long second-round drought for the franchise.
Other Wins & Performances
Before turning professional, Chiarot was a productive minor-hockey scorer, recording 22 goals and 64 points in 75 regular season games in his final season with the Mississauga IceDogs of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, foreshadowing the offensive upside he would later show at the NHL level.
Ben Chiarot Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chiarot comes from a family with a strong athletic tradition in Canadian football. His grandfather, Gord Chiarot, played in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and BC Lions, while his father, Matt Chiarot, and his uncle both played college football at McMaster University. Despite this football heritage, Chiarot’s father steered him toward ice hockey, a decision that ultimately shaped the course of his sporting career.
Personal Life
Ben Chiarot is the son of Matt and Tara Chiarot, and he grew up in Hamilton, Ontario. He has kept most of his personal life out of the public eye, focusing his public identity on his role as a professional hockey player and his contributions to the teams he represents on the ice.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Ben Chiarot remains a key part of the Detroit Red Wings’ defensive group, providing veteran stability and physical play. His experience logging top-four minutes and penalty-killing duty continues to be valuable for a young Red Wings team looking to climb the standings and return to playoff contention.
As Detroit works to build a more competitive roster, Chiarot’s role as a shutdown defenceman and a leader in the dressing room has been central to the team’s identity. His track record of high-minute playoff hockey, including his 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Finals, gives the Red Wings a dependable presence on the back end.
With several seasons remaining on his contract, Chiarot is expected to continue serving as a mentor for younger defencemen on the Detroit roster while anchoring the team’s penalty kill. His combination of size, defensive responsibility, and postseason experience makes him a foundational piece of the Red Wings’ ongoing rebuild.