Matt Luff Bio
Matt Luff (born May 5, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 188 cm tall and weighing 86 kg, Luff is known for his combination of size, skating, and scoring touch at the wing position. Undrafted by an NHL club, he has built his career through persistence, playing for the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, and Detroit Red Wings organizations before landing in St. Louis.
Early Life and Background
Matt Luff was born on May 5, 1997, in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Growing up in this hockey-rich community west of Toronto, he developed his skills in a region that has produced a long list of professional players. His early years were shaped by local minor hockey programs and the strong competitive culture that surrounds the sport in southern Ontario.
Luff progressed through the Oakville Rangers Midget AAA program, where his scoring and physical play began to attract attention. The Oakville area’s reputation for producing skilled, hard-working forwards helped lay the foundation for his transition to higher-level junior hockey.
Path to Hockey
Coming off a successful season with the Oakville Rangers Midget AAA, Luff split his time between the Rangers and the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2013–14 season. On June 9, 2014, he signed a contract with the Blades for the following year, but he ultimately chose to commit to the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League, who had selected him in the OHL Draft.
In his rookie OHL season with the Bulls, Luff emerged as a top young talent and was named a finalist for the league’s Rookie of the Year award, an honor that eventually went to Alex DeBrincat. Following the 2014–15 season, the Bulls were renamed the Hamilton Bulldogs, creating a new chapter in Luff’s junior development.
Matt Luff Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
After going undrafted in the NHL Entry Draft, Luff attended the Los Angeles Kings development and training camp as a free agent. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings on September 23, 2016, becoming the first former Bulldog to sign an NHL contract. He returned to the OHL for the 2016–17 season but was limited to 45 games due to a shoulder injury and a concussion.
Despite the shortened campaign, Luff was reassigned to the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, on April 7, 2017. He opened the 2018–19 season with the Reign after being assigned there from Kings training camp, continuing his adjustment to the professional ranks.
NHL Breakthrough with the Los Angeles Kings (2018–2021)
Luff was recalled to the NHL on November 3, 2018, and made his league debut that night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Playing 9:43 in the contest, he helped the Kings to a 4–1 victory. After appearing in three games, he was reassigned to the Ontario Reign on November 11, only to be recalled again three days later on November 14.
He recorded his first career NHL goal in a 2–0 win over the St. Louis Blues on November 19, 2018. On November 25, in a 5–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, Luff scored his fourth goal in as many games, becoming the fifth Kings rookie to accomplish that feat since Jimmy Carson in 1987. His streak ended the following game against the Vancouver Canucks, and he was later reassigned to the Reign on February 8, 2019, after posting 10 points in 30 games with the Kings.
Luff spent five seasons within the Los Angeles Kings organization, splitting time between the NHL roster and the Ontario Reign, before leaving as a free agent after the 2020–21 season.
Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings (2021–2024)
On July 28, 2021, Luff signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators, adding a new organization to his professional journey. He spent the year within the Predators system before again hitting free agency, and on July 13, 2022, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
During the 2022–23 season with Detroit, Luff recorded two goals and two assists in 19 games at the NHL level, and added eight goals and 17 assists in 28 games for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Following two seasons within the Red Wings organization, he once again became a free agent.
Springfield Thunderbirds Era (2024–Present)
After being unsigned over the summer of 2024, Luff accepted an invitation to attend the Florida Panthers training camp on a professional tryout on September 11, 2024. He was released from the tryout on September 30 after failing to make the team, and he then joined the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on a tryout basis. Luff opened the season with the Checkers, contributing two goals and four points in six games before being released from his tryout.
On November 7, 2024, Luff signed a one-year contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. After a successful stint, he continued his tenure with the organization by signing a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 1, 2025, tying him to the Blues and their AHL affiliate.
Driving Style and Strengths
Luff is recognized for his size, straight-line speed, and willingness to play a physical, north-south game. At 188 cm and 86 kg, he protects the puck well along the boards and is capable of finishing off chances in close to the net, the kind of profile that allowed him to burst into the Kings’ lineup during the 2018–19 season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Luff’s most memorable early milestone came in November 2018, when he became just the fifth Kings rookie since Jimmy Carson in 1987 to score four goals in his first four NHL games. He also earned the distinction of being the first Hamilton Bulldogs alumni to sign an NHL contract, underscoring his role as a trailblazer from that OHL program.
Matt Luff Career Wins
Across the OHL, AHL, and NHL, Matt Luff has assembled a steady resume built on consistent scoring and reliable two-way play. His professional breakthrough with the Los Angeles Kings in 2018–19 highlighted his scoring upside, while productive AHL stints with the Ontario Reign and Grand Rapids Griffins have reinforced his value as a depth forward capable of stepping up when called upon.
NHL Highlights
Luff’s first NHL goal came on November 19, 2018, in a 2–0 win over the St. Louis Blues, a fitting opponent given his eventual landing spot years later. His four-goal flurry through his first four games with the Kings marked him as a rare scoring threat, and he finished that debut NHL season with 10 points in 30 games before being reassigned to the Ontario Reign.
Other Wins and Performances
In the AHL, Luff has served as a dependable contributor, including an eight-goal, 17-assist campaign with the Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2022–23 season. His start with the Charlotte Checkers in 2024 produced four points in six games, and his subsequent move to the Springfield Thunderbirds set the stage for his eventual NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues.
Matt Luff Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Matt Luff’s parents and immediate family remains limited, and detailed background on a family hockey lineage is not broadly documented.
Personal Life
Matt Luff has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. He was born and raised in Oakville, Ontario, and continues to pursue his professional hockey career in North America.
2025 Season Performance
Matt Luff entered the 2025 calendar year with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues, looking to build on a productive start in Springfield. His two goals and four points in six games with the Charlotte Checkers earlier in the season had helped re-establish his offensive confidence following a strong training camp with the Florida Panthers.
On July 1, 2025, Luff signed a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues, formally tying him to the NHL club and its AHL affiliate. The deal reflected a belief in his scoring upside and his fit within the Blues’ organizational depth chart at left and right wing.
Looking ahead, Luff is expected to push for NHL playing time with the Blues while providing veteran scoring punch for the Thunderbirds whenever he is assigned to the AHL. His combination of size, speed, and finishing ability gives him a clear path back to the top level if he can carry his strong AHL production into the 2025–26 NHL season.