Matthew "Matt" Carkner (born November 3, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens 58th overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, and New York Islanders.\n', '

Carkner joined the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the 1997-98 season, where he earned six assists in 57 games as a rookie. He then appeared in four playoff games, but didn\'t register a point. He improved his offensive production in the following season, scoring two goals and 18 points in 60 games. In five playoff games, Carkner had no points, and 20 penalty minutes. He earned the Eastern Conference Most Improved Player award for the season. In the 1999-2000 season, he scored three goals and 16 points in 62 games with Peterborough, followed by five playoff games, in which Carkner would have an assist. His fourth and final season with the club in 2000-01 had Carkner score a career high eight goals, as he earned 16 points in 53 games, and added three assists in seven post-season games. He finished his OHL career with 13 goals, 56 points and 599 penalty minutes in 232 games.\n', '

Carkner was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) with the 58th overall pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft; he never signed with the team, and ultimately signed with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent on June 6, 2001. In his first professional season (2001-02), the Sharks assigned Carkner to their minor league affiliate, the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 74 games, Carkner had three assists, and 335 penalty minutes. He only appeared in 39 games the following seasons after suffering a knee injury in a game against the Utah Grizzlies on January 2, 2003, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. He came back with the Barons for the 2003-04 season as they qualified for the playoffs. In nine post-season games, Carkner had three assists and 39 penalty minutes. With the 2004-05 NHL lockout wiping out NHL play that season, he remained with the Barons the following season as well.\n', '

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