The New York Rangers’ Top 5 MVPs of the 2014-15 Season

Feb 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein (8) during their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Rangers beat the Maple Leafs 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

5) Kevin Klein

Before being traded to the New York Rangers, Kevin Klein was already a steady shut-down defenseman for the Nashville Predators. But when he came over, he turned into a completely new monster on the blueline. Before breaking his arm blocking a shot in the last minute in a victory against the Washington Capitals on March 11, Klein racked up 9 goals and 17 assists in 65 games, which doesn’t seem like much, but those numbers are staggering considering that Klein has never scored more than 4 times in a season. His +24 rating is 13th-best in the entire league, and that’s also the 4th-best +/- for defensemen, behind Jason Garrison at +27, and Niklas Hjalmarsson and Hampus Lindholm at +26. Kevin Klein is the type of player that rarely gets any recognition from top media sources, but he quietly does all the little things that prevent chances for the opposition and generates opportunities for the Rangers.

Side note: He wished me a happy birthday on twitter a couple weeks ago. So on top of being a rock on the ice, he also made my 18th birthday that much more special.

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