Matt Carle

Matt Carle
Carle with the Tampa Bay Lightning in February 2013
Born	(1984-09-25) September 25, 1984 (age 32) Anchorage, AK, USA
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	197 lb (89 kg; 14 st 1 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Left
Played for	San Jose Sharks Tampa Bay Lightning Philadelphia Flyers Nashville Predators
National team	United States
NHL Draft	47th overall, 2003 San Jose Sharks
Playing career	2005–2016

Medal record
Representing the  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
	2013 Sweden/Finland
World Junior Championships
	2004 Helsinki
World U18 Championships
	2002 Trnava

Matthew Carle (born September 25, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. Carle played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators. He was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round, 47th overall, in 2003.

Carle was drafted 47th overall in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks. An all-American star player at the University of Denver with the Pioneers ice hockey team, Carle won the Hobey Baker Award in 2006 emblematic of America's top college hockey player as the only junior defenseman in history to win the award.

To convince Carle to forgo his senior year at Denver, as well as acknowledge Carle's numerous successes, the San Jose Sharks signed Carle to a three-year deal worth approximately US $4.1 million, the maximum an entry-level contract can be worth according under the then-terms of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The contract, a two-way deal, included $942,000 in annual salary as well as a $1.25 million signing bonus.

During his first full season with the Sharks in 2006–07, Carle scored 11 goals and 31 assists in 77 games and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. In November 2007, Carle signed a four-year, $13.75 million contract extension with San Jose.