# Nikolas Matinpalo

Nikolas Matinpalo (born 5 October 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

## Playing career

Matinpalo made his Liiga debut with Ilves during the 2018–19 season. In January 2021, Matinpalo was traded to Ässät.
Following the 2022–23 season, his sixth year in the Liiga, Matinpalo was signed as an undrafted free agent to a one-year, entry-level contract with the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Ottawa Senators on 26 May 2023. Matinpalo attended the 2023 Senators training camp but did not make the team. He was assigned to Ottawa's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators, to begin the 2023–24 season. After injuries to Thomas Chabot and Erik Brännström, Matinpalo was recalled by Ottawa on 28 October. Matinpalo played in his first NHL game the same day, a 5–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was returned to Belleville after four games with Ottawa on 10 November. Matinpalo spent the rest of the season with Belleville and appeared in the Calder Cup playoffs with them. On 20 June 2024 Matinpalo signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Ottawa.
Matinpalo passed through waivers, going unclaimed, and was assigned to Belleville to start the 2024–25 season. Matinpalo was recalled to Ottawa in December as an injury replacement.

## International play

Matinpalo represented Finland during the 2023 IIHF world championship. In February 2025 Matinpalo was called up to Finland roster replacing defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen during the Four Nations Face-Off.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2016–17 | Blues | Jr. A | 33 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Blues | Jr. A | 52 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 59 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | Ilves | Liiga | 30 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2018–19 | KOOVEE | Mestis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | Ilves | Liiga | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | KOOVEE | Mestis | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Ilves | Liiga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | KOOVEE | Mestis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Ässät | Liiga | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Ässät | Liiga | 50 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | Ässät | Liiga | 51 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023–24 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 67 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023–24 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Liiga totals | Liiga totals | Liiga totals | 205 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 121 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2023 | Finland | WC | 7th | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | Finland | 4NF | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |