Kevin Shattenkirk

Shattenkirk was drafted 14th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. He played youth hockey with the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club before attending The Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was drafted by the USA Hockey National Team Development Program,[2] and committed to Boston University of the NCAA's Hockey East conference, along with fellow 2007 Avalanche draft pick Colby Cohen.

After a solid freshman season with the Terriers in 2007–08, in which he was named to the Hockey East All-Freshman Team, Shattenkirk helped take the Terriers to the Frozen Four tournament in 2008–09.[3] After being named in the NCAA Second All-American Team,[4] Shattenkirk went on to help Boston University take the National Championship 4–3 against Miami University, assisting in the overtime, title-winning Colby Cohen goal.[5]

Shattenkirk was named as co-captain, along with Brian Strait, of the Terriers for the 2009–10 season on April 21, 2009.[6] However, after Strait turned professional, Shattenkirk became the sole captain of the Terriers and the first junior sole captain since the 1961–62 season.[7] In 38 games with the Terriers, while focused more attentively to defense, he matched his sophomore goal total with 7 and posted 29 points to be named to the Inside College Hockey Preseason All-American and All-College Hockey News Preseason Second Teams.[8] After defeat in the Hockey East semi-finals to the University of Maine, on April 3, 2010, Shattenkirk (along with Colby Cohen) was signed to three-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[9]

On April 5, 2010, Shattenkirk was signed to an amateur try-out contract with the Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, to conclude the 2009–10 season.[10] On April 7, 2010, he made his professional debut, recording an assist and a shootout goal in a 5–4 victory over the Abbotsford Heat.[11]

Shattenkirk with the Blues.

On November 4, 2010, Colorado recalled Shattenkirk from Lake Erie and made his NHL debut in a home game against the Vancouver Canucks that same day.[12] Shattenkirk was one of 12 rookies selected to participate in the 2011 NHL All-Star festivities in Raleigh, North Carolina.

On February 19, 2011, in a swap of four former first-rounders, Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and a conditional second-round pick were traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a conditional first-round pick.[13] Later that day, Shattenkirk made his home debut with the Blues at the Scottrade Center, recording an assist in a decisive 9–3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.[14]

With the NHL lockout effectively delaying the start to the 2012–13 season, on November 26, 2012, Shattenkirk signed a lockout contract in Finland, joining Blues teammate Kris Russell with HC TPS of the SM-liiga.[15] He played in 12 games before the labor dispute was solved, scoring two goals and six points for TPS.

On June 26, 2013, Shattenkirk signed a four-year, $17 million extension with St. Louis.

In the final year of his contract, during the 2016–17 season, the Blues were unable to work out an extension with Shattenkirk as he approached free agency.[16] On February 27, 2017, prior to the trade deadline, Shattenkirk was traded (alongside Pheonix Copley) to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Zach Sanford, Brad Malone, a 2017 first-round draft pick and a conditional second-round draft pick in 2019. Shattenkirk left the Blues having played in 425 games and collecting 258 points, placing fifth all-time amongst defensemen in franchise history.[17]

On July 1, 2017, Shattenkirk signed a four-year, $26.65 million contract with the New York Rangers.[18] Shattenkirk had been connected to the Rangers via rumors for months leading up to his free agency, which further heated up following a June 23 trade in which New York traded away Derek Stepan, clearing up cap space.[19][20] On January 19, 2018, it was announced Shattenkirk would have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and that he would be out of the lineup indefinitely. It was later revealed he had torn the meniscus during training camp and had played through the first half of the season with it before opting for surgery.[21] Even though he was initially expected to be able to return for the end of the regular season and for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers would fall out of playoff contention and eventually opted to shut down Shattenkirk for the season.

On July 31, 2019, Shattenkirk's contract was bought out by the New York Rangers after a disappointing 2018–19 season when he registered just 2 goals and 28 points in 73 games.[22]

Shattenkirk signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a one-year, $1.75 million deal for the 2019–20 season.

On October 9, 2020, Shattenkirk left the Lightning as a free agent and was signed to a three-year, $11.7 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks.[23]