Matt Duchene
A creative offensive force, this swift center made history by scoring a franchise-record 43 goals for the Nashville Predators in a single season.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: January 16·Millennials
Biography
Matt Duchene's hockey story is one of precocious talent meeting seasoned craft. Drafted third overall by Colorado in 2009, he burst into the NHL as an 18-year-old with dazzling speed and hands that could dissect defenses. His early years with the Avalanche were marked by highlight-reel goals, but his journey became a quest for team success, leading to trades to Ottawa, Columbus, and finally a career resurgence in Nashville. It was with the Predators that Duchene found a dominant groove, leveraging his experience to become a more complete, potent scorer. In the 2022-23 season, he silenced any remaining doubters by netting 43 goals, setting a new single-season record for the Predators franchise. That performance earned him a move to the Dallas Stars, where he added depth and scoring punch to a Stanley Cup-contending roster. Duchene's game evolved from pure offensive flash to intelligent, two-way responsibility, making him a valuable asset who finally translated his individual brilliance into deep playoff runs.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matt was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set the Nashville Predators franchise record for most goals in a single season with 43 in 2022-23.
- Won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
- Recorded a career-high 86 points (43 goals, 43 assists) during his record-setting 2022-23 season.
- Scored his 300th career NHL goal in 2023, surpassing a major league milestone.
Did You Know?
He grew up a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and famously celebrated a goal by pretending to throw a hat, a nod to Leafs legend Mats Sundin.
Duchene is a distant relative of legendary NHL coach Scotty Bowman.
He owns a large farm in Ontario where he raises cattle.
As a junior player, he was named the CHL Sportsman of the Year for his conduct on and off the ice.
“I’ve always believed in my ability. It was just about getting the right opportunity and staying healthy.”
