New York Rangers 2017-18 Report Card: Kevin Shattenkirk
Kevin Shattenkirk joined the New York Rangers last offseason as one of the most highly sought after free agents on the market. With Shattenkirk missing the second half of the season, how does he score with all things considered?
Kevin Shattenkirk spent his first seven seasons in the league with the St. Louis Blues. The Blues then traded him to the Washington Capitals at the in-season trade deadline.
After the Capitals missed another chance at a title, Shattenkirk’s contract expired and he became an unrestricted free agent.
A New York native, growing up in Westchester County just outside of Manhattan, the Rangers were able to land the veteran defenseman and signed him to a six-year deal.
With the buyout of Dan Girardi and the addition of Shattenkirk to the roster, it seemed that Jeff Gorton had managed to vastly improve the defense, which was the Rangers biggest area of concern during the 2016-17 season.
Shattenkirk is not only someone that brings experience and a responsible, established game but is also a player that has a strong offensive upside.
On paper, it seemed that he would fit right in on the top pairing next to Ryan McDonagh. However, unforeseen issues on the defensive end as well as a detrimental injury forced Shattenkirk off the roster permanently.
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What went down
Early in the season, something about Shattenkirk seemed off. While he was still showing signs of the game he is known to play, he did not play up to the expectations he had set in previous seasons.
There was question as to why he played just four games with McDonagh. Alain Vigneault made the decision to play Shattenkirk on the second and third pairings for the Rangers for a majority of the season.
Things started to make more sense when the team announced that Shattenkirk had been skating on a torn meniscus since October. The Rangers had made no statement on said injury until they were fully out of the playoff picture.
Just weeks before, however, Vigneault called him out describing him as a “work in progress” despite knowing full well about this injury.
With politics aside, the bottom line is that the Rangers made the right decision, placed Shattenkirk on the injured reserve, allowed him to undergo surgery and, effectively, made the decision to rebuild.
And, with all things considering, Shattenkirk had a good season. He played a total 46 games for the Rangers and notched five goals and 18 assists for 23 points.
Despite being injured, he proved that he could add value to the Rangers roster and that he is a good fit for the playing style.
With a new coach and a new vision for the team, it is likely that this will only continue to develop.
Next: New York Rangers report cards: Alexandar Georgiev
A healthy Kevin Shattenkirk will be a vital piece to the Rangers defense next season. As one of the sole veterans on the roster, he has a great opportunity to be a leader and can help shape the Rangers defense upon his return.