Mike Hoffman

Michael Hoffman (born November 24, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Hoffman started his junior hockey career with the Kitchener Dutchmen of the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League in 2006–07.

earning a rookie of the year nomination.

At the end of the 2006–07 season, the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) called him up for two games in the season, and four in the playoffs.

At the start of the 2007–08 season, he failed to make the Rangers.

He was not selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, his first year of eligibility.

However, he attended the Philadelphia Flyers' training camp on an amateur tryout and was released on September 29.

Hoffman then returned to Drummondville.

In the 2008–09 season, he achieved prominence by scoring 52 goals in 62 games with the Voltigeurs, who came from last in the 2007–08 season to win the 2009 QMJHL championship title and a berth in the 2009 Memorial Cup.

In Game 7 for the QMJHL championship, Hoffman scored a goal and an assist in Drummondville's 3–2 win over the Shawinigan Cataractes, finishing with 21 goals in 19 games in the playoffs.

He was selected in the fifth round, 130th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Hoffman has also previously played for the Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, and St. Louis Blues.

He was then selected by the Senators 130th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the age of 19.

The Senators could have signed him after the Draft as a free agent had he gone unselected, but 14 other NHL teams had shown interest in drafting him, necessitating Ottawa's selection.

Hoffman subsequently attended the Senators' development and training camps and played in a pre-season game against the Montreal Canadiens, but was designated for assignment and returned to the QMJHL.

Hoffman played the 2009–10 season, his "over-age" season, for the Saint John Sea Dogs, who traded a second-round draft choice to Drummondville for the player.

Hoffman recorded 85 points (46 goals, 39 assists) in 56 games.

His goal scoring broke the all-time goal single-season scoring record for the Sea Dogs, surpassing Scott Howes' goal total.

His point total also placed him third in the QMJHL in goals, tied for second in power-play goals (17) and seventh in overall scoring.

Hoffman was also named a First Team QMJHL All-Star, won the League Most Valuable Player trophy, the League Sportsman of the Year trophy and was a finalist for the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Player of the Year award.

Since no OHL team picked him up, he transferred to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he played until 2010.

Hoffman first joined the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL but was released after 19 games.

In 2010, Olympiques General Manager Charlie Henry said that Hoffman was "a good player for us, but he didn't work as hard as he works today."

The last-place Drummondville Voltigeurs eventually picked him up and he finished the season with 24 goals in 62 games.

In July 2010, Hoffman attended the Ottawa Senators' development camp, and on July 22, 2010, he signed an entry-level contract with the NHL club.

After attending rookie camp and training camp with Ottawa, Hoffman was assigned to the Binghamton Senators, the Senators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.

Hoffman played the majority of the season with Binghamton and was a member of the 2011 Calder Cup-winning team.

He also spent time in the ECHL with the Elmira Jackals during the season, Ottawa's second-tier affiliate.

Hoffman returned to Binghamton for the 2011–12 season.

He was called up to Ottawa in December 2011 and made his NHL debut on December 23, 2011, against the Carolina Hurricanes; he was held pointless in his debut.

Hoffman was the leading scorer for Binghamton during the 2012–13 season prior to suffering a broken collarbone just before the AHL All-Star Game.

He played three games with Ottawa before re-injuring the collarbone and missing the last 12 regular season and first 10 playoff games.

Hoffman began the 2013–14 season in Binghamton.

He was recalled to Ottawa on December 2, 2013, after recording 26 points in 21 games, the second-highest point total in the AHL at the time.

He was returned to Binghamton, but returned to Ottawa in February 2014 and remained with the team for the final 23 games.

In 2014–15, Hoffman played the whole season in Ottawa and his 27 goals led the team.

He was selected to play in the NHL All-Star weekend and led all NHL rookies in goals.

He finished sixth in voting for the Calder Trophy for NHL rookie of the year.

Following the 2014–15 NHL season Hoffman became a restricted free agent under the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Ottawa Senators made him a qualifying offer to retain his NHL rights and, on July 5, 2015, Hoffman filed for salary arbitration.