RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FREE AGENT DEFENSEMAN KEVIN SHATTENKIRK
RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FREE AGENT DEFENSEMAN KEVIN SHATTENKIRK
BY: The New York Rangers
NEW YORK, July 1, 2017 – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
Shattenkirk, 28, has skated in 490 career NHL games over seven seasons with Colorado, St. Louis, and Washington (2010-11 – 2016-17), registering 68 goals and 230 assists for 298 points, along with a plus-17 rating and 304 penalty minutes. Shattenkirk has recorded at least 30 assists and 40 points in six of his seven NHL seasons, and the only season in which he didn’t reach those plateaus was 2012-13, which was a 48-game season. Shattenkirk is one of 14 defensemen in NHL history who have registered 30 or more assists and 40 or more points in at least six of their first seven seasons. Also, since Shattenkirk began his NHL career in 2010-11, he is one of four NHL defensemen who has tallied at least 30 assists and 40 points in six different seasons (along with Erik Karlsson, Duncan Keith, and Keith Yandle). Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Shattenkirk ranks second among NHL defensemen in power play points (131). He ranks third among NHL defensemen in power play goals (32) and power play assists (99); he is the only defenseman who ranks third or higher in all three categories over the span. Shattenkirk was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game during the 2014-15 season.
The 6-0, 200-pounder has helped his team reach the playoffs in six of his seven NHL seasons, including each of the last six seasons. In 60 career NHL playoff games, Shattenkirk has registered five goals and 29 assists for 34 points, along with 41 penalty minutes. He established playoff career-highs in games played (20), goals (two), assists (nine), and points (11) during the 2015-16 season while helping the Blues advance to the Western Conference Final. Since the start of the 2014 Playoffs, Shattenkirk has tallied 30 points (four goals, 26 assists) in 45 playoff contests; he is tied for second among NHL defensemen in assists and is tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in points over the span. Among NHL defensemen who have skated in at least 30 playoff games since the start of the 2014 Playoffs, Shattenkirk ranks first in assists per game (0.58) and is in a tie for third in points per game (0.67).
Shattenkirk split this past season between St. Louis and Washington, registering 13 goals and 43 assists for 56 points, along with 47 penalty minutes in 80 games. He established career-highs in assists, points, power play goals (eight), and power play points (27) in 2016-17. Shattenkirk was one of four NHL defensemen who registered at least ten goals and 40 assists this past season, along with Brent Burns, Victor Hedman, and Erik Karlsson. Shattenkirk ranked fourth among NHL defensemen in points, tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in assists, tied for sixth among NHL defensemen in primary assists (21), and tied for ninth among NHL defensemen in goals this past season. Shattenkirk tied for eighth in the NHL in power play points in 2016-17. He also tied for second among NHL defensemen in power play goals and power play points and tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in power play assists (19) this past season.
Shattenkirk skated in 13 playoff games with Washington during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, registering one goal and five assists for six points, along with six penalty minutes. He tied for third among NHL defensemen in power play assists (three) and ranked fourth among NHL defensemen in power play points (four) in the playoffs. Shattenkirk also tied for second on the Capitals in power-play assists and power play points, and he tied for fifth on the team in assists in the playoffs. Also, he led Washington defensemen in assists, points, power play assists, and power play points during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Shattenkirk registered his first career NHL playoff overtime goal, as well as his first career NHL playoff game-winning goal, in Game 3 of the Second Round at Pittsburgh on May 1.
Internationally, the New Rochelle, New York, native has represented the United States in several tournaments. Most recently, Shattenkirk registered three assists and posted a plus-three rating in six games while representing the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and he tied for first among team defensemen in assists and points in the tournament. He led all defensemen with eight assists, tied for first among all defensemen with nine points, and was selected as one of the Best Three Players on his Team while representing the United States at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship. Shattenkirk also helped the United States earn a silver medal while serving as the team’s captain at the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championship, and he was named the Best Defenseman of the tournament.
Before beginning his professional career, Shattenkirk played three seasons of collegiate hockey at Boston University (2007-08 – 2009-10). He registered 78 points (18 goals, 60 assists), along with a plus-31 rating and 116 penalty minutes in 121 career collegiate games. Also, Shattenkirk helped Boston University win the National Championship in 2008-09.
The Colorado Avalanche selected Shattenkirk in the first round, 14th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
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