900 Game Veteran and Former Stanley Cup Champion Announces his Retirement
Kevin Shattenkirk was a very consistent blue liner in the NHL for a long time, but now the 35-year old has announced he has played his last game in the league, with his final year coming in 2023/24 with the Boston Bruins.
The NHL has seen several players retire over the past few years, marking the end of a special generation for many, and now, a former first-round draft pick has also announced his exit from the league.
According to Chris Johnston of TSN, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has officially announced his retirement after not being able to find a new home in free agency this off-season, ending his 14-year stint in the NHL.
Way back in 2007, Shattenkirk was drafted with the No. 14 overall pick by the Colorado Avalanche, although he would go on to play just 46 games for the team before being moved.
Since then, the New York native would play for St. Louis, Washington, New York, Tampa Bay, Anaheim and ultimately the Boston Bruins in 2023/24, which would end up being his last year in the league.
In that time, Shattenkirk tallied 952 games played, 103 goals and 484 points, and while he was never a star player in the league, he was as consistent as any blue liner there was.
In his emotional announcement, Shattenkirk shouted out his family, friends, his wife, the fans and every single team and teammate he ever had, with a very bright future ahead for the 35-year old.
It's unclear whether Shattenkirk will push for a role behind the bench or in a front office somewhere, but with so much experience under his belt, it's safe to say that he's the type of person that should land a fantastic role in the league somewhere whenever he wants to return to the game of hockey.
