Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Stanley Cup champion Kevin Shattenkirk announced his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday.
“After 14 amazing years in the National Hockey League, I have decided to retire,” Shattenkirk wrote in a statement released to social media on Tuesday. “I never knew hockey would take me this far. This game has had a dramatic impact in developing me into the man I am today.”
Drafted 14th overall in 2007 by the Colorado Avalanche, Shattenkirk played 14 seasons in the NHL. The defenseman skated in 952 regular-season games and 91 playoff contests in his career across seven franchises.
“I can proudly say that I have accomplished most of my career goals,” Shattenkirk said. “I scored big goals, including a Stanley Cup final overtime goal, played in All-Star Games, represented my country in the Olympics and won a Stanley Cup.”
The St. Louis Blues were his home for the longest of all his teams. Shattenkirk played there for seven years after the Colorado Avalanche traded the then-rookie in a package for Erik Johnson. He played 425 games for the Blues, scoring 258 points for the club.
During his time with the Blues, the team made a deep run into the playoffs, advancing to the Western Conference final before losing to the San Jose Sharks in six games.
His time with the Blues ended in 2017 when the club sent him to the Washington Capitals.
The 2016-17 campaign ended up being a career year for the D-man. Before the trade, he had 42 points in 61 games for St. Louis. He added another 12 points in 19 games for Washington, totalling a career-high 56 points in 80 games. Shattenkirk added another six points in 13 playoff games.
With the help of Shattenkirk on the back end, the Capitals won the Presidents’ Trophy. However, they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Despite a few frustrating playoff campaigns for the New Rochelle, N.Y. native, Shattenkirk eventually earned a Stanley Cup championship with the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was the 2019-20 bubble playoffs when the COVID-19-affected post-season was hosted in Edmonton’s Rogers Place and Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. He scored 13 points in 25 games for the Bolts.
Last season, Shattenkirk scored 24 points in 61 games with the Boston Bruins. In the playoffs, the Bruins made it to the second round before losing to the eventual Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Shattenkirk played six games and recorded one assist.
Shattenkirk retired as a free agent, scoring…