**Defenseman**

*Notes accurate as of Sept. 1, 2025*

**Pronunciation:** SAM-yew-uhl-suhn, ma-TEE-uhs

**Contract Status:** Signed through 2029-30 ($4.285 million AAV)

**CAREER TRANSACTIONS:** Selected by Buffalo in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.

**CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:**

* Made his NHL debut on April 18, 2021 vs. Pittsburgh, where he recorded two shot attempts and two hits in 14:12 of ice time. * Recorded two assists on April 23, 2021 vs. Boston, marking both his first point and first multi-point game of his NHL career. * Scored the first goal of his NHL career on Nov. 30, 2022 at Detroit. * Skated a career-high 31:31 on Dec. 15, 2022 at Colorado. * Appeared in his 100th NHL game on March 4, 2023 vs. Tampa Bay. * Registered the first game-winning goal of his career on Oct. 21, 2023 vs. NY Islanders. * Ranked first among all Sabres skaters in blocked shots per 60 (6.21) in 2023-24. * Ranked third among all Sabres skaters and second among all Buffalo defensemen in shorthanded time on ice per game played (2:47) in 2023-24. * Recorded a single-game career-high five shots on Jan. 4, 2024 at Montreal. * Played in the 200th NHL game of his career on March 25, 2025 vs. Ottawa. * Set new single-season career highs in games played (62), goals (4) and points (14) and tied his previous single-season career high in assists (10) in 2024-25.

**AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:**

* Recorded 10 points (5+5) in 30 games with the U.S National U17 team in the 2016-17 season. * Made his USHL debut on Sept. 23, 2016 vs. Muskegon and recorded his first career point with a goal on Sept. 30, 2016 vs. Youngstown. * Skated in 23 contests with the U.S. National Team Development Program U18 Team in 2017-18. * Appeared in 35 games during the 2018-19 season, his first with the Western Michigan Broncos (NCHC). * Named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team in 2018-19. * Named a finalist in the 2019-20 season for NCHC’s Best Defensive Defenseman with Western Michigan.

**INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:**

* Represented the United States, served as team captain and earned a silver medal in the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship. * Appeared in seven games with Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and earned a silver medal. * Served as Team USA’s captain and appeared in five games at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

**NHL FIRSTS**

**Game:** 4/18/21 vs PIT

**Goal:** 11/30/22 at DET

**Assist:** 4/23/21 vs BOS

**AWARDS & HONORS**

**Professional**

N/A

**International**

2018 IIHF U18 World Champion Silver Medal

2019 IIHF World Junior Champion Silver Medal

**Amateur**

2019-2020 NCHC Honorable Mention All-Star Team