Kevin Klein’s NHL career is officially in the history books. The 32-year-old decided to hang up the skates on July 7. The New York Rangers are now given $2.9 million in cap relief with the retirement of Klein becoming official.
Kevin Klein joined the New York Rangers on January 22, 2014, when the Nashville Predators traded him in exchange for defenseman Michael Del Zotto. Klein played in 224 games for the Rangers through out four seasons and played a vital part in the Stanley Cup Final run.
He contributed 22 goals and 50 assists during his time in New York. Eight of his goals for the Rangers turned into being game winning goals. Klein loved the big moments during his tenure with the Rangers. Let’s thank Kevin Klein for his time and hard-work that he brought every game. These are the top five Kevin Klein moments in no particular order…
This Kevin Klein moment came on October 21, 2014, when the New York Rangers visited their rivals from across the Hudson. The Rangers found themselves trailing 3-1 in the 3rd period when Jon Merrill scored a power play goal early.
The Rangers needed to find a way to battle back in this early season matchup. Chris Mueller got the Rangers to within one goal half way through the 3rd period. The Rangers kept pressing the Devils and Rick Nash broke through to tie the game with five minutes left in the game.
The Rangers weren’t able to score another one during regulation time and the game was heading into overtime. It was time for some Kevin Klein heroics in New Jersey. The Rangers completed the comeback with 2:18 remaining in the overtime period when Klein fired a shot from the slot past Corey Schneider.
This was a doozy of a game to be at for both Ranger and Islander fans. This game occurred on February 16, 2015. I was at this game and it is safe to say that everyone at the game felt every single emotion during the 60 minutes of play. The Nassau Coliseum was rocking and it had a playoff atmosphere that night.
The Islanders had a two goal lead on three separate occasions during this game. The Rangers kept fighting back with everything that they had. With the game tied at five, Kevin Klein found the puck on his stick with 4:32 left in regulation. Klein ripped a shot past Jaroslav Halak and the Ranger fans at the Coliseum erupted.
The Rangers were able to hold onto the 6-5 lead for the win that notched another game winning goal for Klein. Klein finished the game with one goal and one assist and totaling 19 minutes of ice time.
This moment occurred during Klein’s first full year with the Rangers. It may not seem like much but this moment shows what kind of player Klein was on the ice. The Rangers were up 4-0 against the Montreal Canadiens in the 3rd period. Former Rangers tough guy, Brandon Prust collided with Henrik Lundqvist shaking Lundqvist up a bit.
Kevin Klein didn’t hesitate to step in and stick up for his teammate. The two dropped their gloves and started exchanging punches. Klein was a warrior on the ice and he would always stick up for his teammates.
He wasn’t known for fighting but when the situation appeared, Klein would step right up to the challenge. Klein dropped the gloves eight times during his tenure with the Rangers.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 11: Kevin Klein /
This moment came on March 16, 2016, at the Honda Center in California. The Rangers were visiting the Anaheim Ducks who were 9-0-1 in their last 10 games at the Honda Center. The Rangers went down 1-0 but battled back for a 2-1 victory.
Klein garnered his first career two-goal game that night and led the Rangers to added two points in the standings. He spent over 20 minutes on the ice during the game and tallied six shots with two of those sneaking into the back of the net.
Klein was on the ice for the goal against and was the main reason for the Ducks goal. However, he didn’t let that fluster him. He responded with one of his best games as a New York Ranger and makes it into his top five moments with the Rangers.
This is perhaps Klein’s greatest moment as a New York Ranger. With under 3 minutes left in the 1st period, Klein was caught with a high stick in which cut open his ear. It was later announced that Klein lost a piece of his ear from the penalty.
The Kitchener, Ontario, Canada native received 13 stitches and then returned to finish out the rest of the game. The game wouldn’t be settled after regulation time as it was tied 3-3. Klein stepped up and created another moment for himself when he blasted a shot past Marc-Andre Fleury with 1:15 left in the overtime period.
This game exemplified the type of player that Kevin Klein was. Klein produced some tremendous moments during his 224 game tenure with the New York Rangers. Injuries caught up with Klein and he is now retired. Thank you, Kevin Klein for all of the memories!
