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Brendan Shanahan
BrendanShanahan
Position Right/left wing
Shoots Right
Height
Weight
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Teams New Jersey Devils
St. Louis Blues
Hartford Whalers
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Nationality Flag of Canada Canadian
Born (1969-01-23)January 23, 1969,
Mimico, Etobicoke, ON, CAN
NHL Draft 2nd overall, 1987
New Jersey Devils
Pro Career 1987 – 2009

Brendan Frederick "Shanny" Shanahan (born January 23, 1969) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently serves as the National Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development. Originally drafted by the Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, Shanahan played with the St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and New Jersey Devils. He spent the majority of his career with the Red Wings, with whom he won three Stanley Cup championships. With his physical play and goal scoring ability, Shanahan scored 656 goals in his NHL career spanning over 1,500 NHL games and, at the time of his retirement, was the leader among active NHL players for goals scored. Shanahan is the only player in NHL history with over 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.

Competing for Team Canada internationally, Shanahan won a gold medal at the 1994 World Championships, 2002 Winter Olympics, and a 1991 Canada Cup championship. Having won what are considered the three most prominent team titles in ice hockey, an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship and a Stanley Cup, Shanahan is a member of the elite Triple Gold Club.[1] Shanahan currently works in the NHL office as the league's vice president of hockey and business operations.[2]

Playing career[]

Start in New Jersey (1988 – 1991)[]

Shanahan was drafted by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft after Pierre Turgeon. Expectations for Shanahan were high after a stellar career with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), with whom his number 19 has been retired. In his rookie season with the Devils, in 1987–88, he scored 26 points in 65 games as an 18-year-old. The following season, in 1988–89, he improved to 22 goals and 50 points. In his third NHL season, he emerged as a point-per-game producer with 72 points in 73 games and a top scorer with the Devils; his 30 goals finished tied for second in team goal-scoring behind John MacLean.[3] In his fourth and final year of his initial stint with the Devils in 1990–91, he scored 29 goals and 66 points. At the age of 22, Shanahan was already an established scorer in the NHL. He had also played well in the Devils' playoff runs.

To the St. Louis Blues (1991 – 1995)[]

Becoming a free agent following the 1990–91 season, Shanahan was signed by the St. Louis Blues on July 25, 1991.[4] According to the collective bargaining agreement, he was a restricted free-agent, and therefore, the Devils were due compensation. Ordinarily, this compensation would be in the form of draft picks, but the Blues already owed four first-round draft picks to the Washington Capitals for signing defenceman Scott Stevens the previous year. The Blues made an offer for compensation that consisted of Curtis Joseph, Rod Brind'Amour and two draft picks even further down the road. However, the Devils were only interested in Scott Stevens. An arbitrator eventually decided that Stevens was to be the compensation, so Shanahan joined the Blues in exchange for Scott Stevens.[4]

While Shanahan's first season for the Blues yielded similar statistics to his seasons with the Devils, he would reach another level in 1992–93 with 51 goals and 94 points in 71 games. He finished second in team goal-scoring to Brett Hull and third in team point-scoring overall. Continuing at that pace the next season, in 1993–94, he recorded personal bests of 52 goals, 50 assists and 102 points. In addition to leading the Blues in points, he was named to the 1994 NHL All-Star Game at mid-season and the NHL First All-Star Team at the end of the year.

During the 1994–95 NHL lockout, Shanahan played 3 games for Düsseldorf EG of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, managing to score 5 goals and tally 3 assists in his short stay overseas. When the NHL started back up, he continued to play well for the Blues, recording 41 points in the lockout-shortened season. In the playoffs, he led the team in scoring with 9 points in 5 games.

Year in Hartford (1995 – 1996)[]

After three seasons with the Blues, on July 27, 1995, Shanahan was traded to the Hartford Whalers for defenceman Chris Pronger[4] where he succeeded Pat Verbeek as the team captain. In his only full season for Hartford, he scored a team-high 44 goals and 78 points. For his efforts, he was selected to the 1996 NHL All-Star Game. However, with the uncertainty of the franchise, Shanahan asked for a trade.[4] On October 9, 1996, just 2 games into the 1996–97 season, Shanahan was traded along with Brian Glynn to the Detroit Red Wings for forward Keith Primeau, defenceman Paul Coffey, and a first-round draft pick.[4]

Three Stanley Cups with Detroit (1996 – 2006)[]

Shanahan finished off the season with his usual productivity, scoring a total of 47 goals for the season, and was named to the 1997 NHL All-Star Game. In the playoffs, Shanahan contributed 9 goals and 8 assists, helping the Red Wings to their first Stanley Cup since 1955. They repeated as Cup champions the next year, despite an off-season for Shanahan, in which he managed just 57 points. The following season, in 1998–99 NHL season, Shanahan continued at that pace with 58 points, but was still invited to another All-Star Game. Going into the playoffs as back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, the Red Wings were eliminated by the rival Colorado Avalanche. In 1999–00, Shanahan scored 41 goals, indicating a return to his usual form. After the season, he was named to the First All-Star Team for the second time in his career. He put up 76 points in the 2000–01 NHL season, although Detroit was upset in the first round of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Kings.

The 2001–02 season was a banner one for both Shanahan and the Red Wings. Having picked up future Hall-of-Famers Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille and Dominik Hašek in the off-season, the team was primed to win its third Cup since 1997. They cruised to victory and Shanahan continued to play a big role in their success, scoring 37 goals during the regular season and 19 points in their victorious Stanley Cup run. Shanahan also picked up an Olympic gold medal in Salt Lake City with Team Canada and was named to the Second NHL All-Star Team. The season was also of particular statistical significance for Shanahan, as shortly preceding his Olympic gold medal victory, he recorded his 1000th point in the NHL with two goals against Marty Turco in a 4–2 victory over the Dallas Stars on January 12, 2002.[5] Then, late in the season, Shanahan also reached the 500-goal mark, scoring the game-winner against Patrick Roy in a 2–0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on March 23, 2002. The win also marked a team accomplishment as it clinched a President's Trophy as the top ranked regular-season team.[6]

In the season following their third Stanley Cup, Shanahan scored 30 goals and 68 points and won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy at the end of the year for his humanitarian efforts. In the following season, however, his production dipped to 25 goals and 53 points, his lowest totals in fifteen years. After a one-year absence due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Shanahan showed yet another return to form in the 2005–06 NHL season, tallying an impressive 40 goals and 81 points, good for third among Red Wings in scoring.

New success with the Rangers (2006 – 2008)[]

NYR14 07

Shanahan (with the "A" on his jersey) warms up during a September 2007 pre-season game.

Shanahan became a free agent following the 2005–06 season and signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the New York Rangers.[7] After completing a successful nine-year stay in Detroit, he expressed a desire to move on in his NHL career, stating "It really came down to an instinct I had. Detroit has a great past and a great future ahead of them as well, but I guess I just felt that maybe I was identified with the past a little bit more than the future."

Shanahan began his Rangers' career by scoring his 599th and 600th career goals against Olaf Kölzig on October 5, 2006, in a 5–3 season opening win against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden.[8] With assists coming from Petr Průcha on both goals, he became just the 15th player in NHL history to reach the 600-goal mark. Shortly thereafter, on November 14, 2006, Shanahan received the inaugural Mark Messier Leadership Award, an award given monthly to a player selected by Mark Messier who best exemplifies leadership skills on and off the ice. Then, selected to his eighth All-Star Game, he was named captain of the Eastern Conference for the 2007 All-Star Game.[9] On February 1, 2007, he made headlines after expressing frustration in a press conference about his perception that NHL referees are biased against team captain Jaromír Jágr.[10] Later in the month, he was involved in a severe on-ice collision with Philadelphia Flyers forward Mike Knuble in a game on February 17. Shanahan and Knuble caught each other skating in opposite directions as Shanahan was headed for the bench, at which point Shanahan hit his head on the ice and was left unconscious for ten minutes. He was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital where he was released the next day.[11] After missing 15 games, Shanahan returned to the lineup in time for the playoffs where the Rangers were defeated by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round. Shanahan completed his first season with the Rangers fourth in team scoring with 62 points in 67 games as an alternate captain to Jagr.[8]

After re-signing to another one-year contract with the Rangers,[12] Shanahan's struggled to produce offensively as his points total dipped to just 46 points in 2007–08, his lowest total since his rookie season in 1987–88. With his contract expiring in the off-season, he was not tended an offer by the Rangers, believed to be a result of the Rangers' pursuit of free agent Mats Sundin.[4]

Return to the Devils (2009)[]

Unable to come to terms with the Rangers, Shanahan sat out the first half of the 2008–09 season. Then, on January 10, 2009, it was announced that Shanahan agreed to join the New Jersey Devils for his second stint with the team. Four days later, on January 14, the terms of the contract were finalized and Shanahan signed a one-year, $800,000 pro-rated contract.[13] Playing in his first game back with the Devils since the 1990–91 season, he scored the first goal of the game against the Nashville Predators on a 5 on 3 power play by toe dragging the puck around the opposition player and then shooting it on the pad side on January 19 in a 3–1 win.[14] On August 5, 2009, Shanahan agreed to a one year deal with the Devils returning for a 22nd season,[15] to play during the 2009–10 season. But on October 1, 2009, the Devils and Shanahan parted ways, with Brendan Shanahan saying "When I signed this past summer, Lou Lamoriello, Jacques Lemaire, and I agreed that if we were unable to find a suitable fit in which I would be able to compete and contribute at the level I expect from myself, then I would simply step aside."

Legacy[]

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Shanahan was the mastermind of what was dubbed "The Shanahan Summit," a two-day conference in Toronto. It gathered players, coaches, and other influential voices to discuss improvements to the flow and tempo of the game. Ten recommendations were presented to the League and Players Association.

According to The Hockey News, Shanahan holds an unofficial NHL record for most modern day career Gordie Howe hat tricks with 17.[16] However not all teams have kept records of this feat, and it is even believed that Gordie Howe himself only officially had two. According to a Yahoo article, Shanahan would choose to go into the Hall of Fame as a Red Wing, if he had to choose[17].

Retirement[]

On November 17, 2009, Shanahan officially announced his retirement after 21 years in the NHL.

Shanahan said, "I would like to thank my family and all of the friends who have helped me achieve and maintain my childhood dream of playing in the National Hockey League", Shanahan said in a news release. "I am enormously grateful to all of my coaches and teammates I've had the privilege of learning from and playing along side of, throughout my career. While I always dreamed of playing in the NHL, I can't honestly say that I would have ever imagined that I'd be this fortunate and blessed. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me fulfill this dream."[18]

In December 2009, Shanahan accepted a position to become the NHL's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development.[19]

"In a broad sense, I think obviously, I am going to be another voice in the hockey ops, but at the same time people like John Collins and Gary and Bill are going to allow me and teach me the business of hockey," Shanahan told NHL.com. "What I was excited about in their offer to bring me on board is that it was wide open for me. There was not going to be any room with a closed door and I would be given an opportunity to see and learn. As time goes by there will be some days where my role is more hockey specific and some days where my role is more business or marketing specific."

Awards[]

Career statistics[]

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1985–86 London Knights OHL 59 28 34 62 70 5 5 5 10 5
1986–87 London Knights OHL 56 39 53 92 128
1987–88 New Jersey Devils NHL 65 7 19 26 131 12 2 1 3 44
1988–89 New Jersey Devils NHL 68 22 28 50 115
1989–90 New Jersey Devils NHL 73 30 42 72 137 6 3 3 6 20
1990–91 New Jersey Devils NHL 75 29 37 66 141 7 3 5 8 12
1991–92 St. Louis Blues NHL 80 33 36 69 171 6 2 3 5 14
1992–93 St. Louis Blues NHL 71 51 43 94 174 11 4 3 7 18
1993–94 St. Louis Blues NHL 81 52 50 102 211 4 2 5 7 4
1994–95 Düsseldorfer EG DEL 3 5 3 8 4
1994–95 St. Louis Blues NHL 45 20 21 41 136 5 4 5 9 14
1995–96 Hartford Whalers NHL 74 44 34 78 125
1996–97 Hartford Whalers NHL 2 1 0 1 0
1996–97 Detroit Red Wings NHL 79 46 41 87 131 20 9 8 17 43
1997–98 Detroit Red Wings NHL 75 28 29 57 154 20 5 4 9 22
1998–99 Detroit Red Wings NHL 81 31 27 58 123 10 3 7 10 6
1999–00 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 41 37 78 105 9 3 2 5 10
2000–01 Detroit Red Wings NHL 81 31 45 76 81 2 2 2 4 0
2001–02 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 37 38 75 118 23 8 11 19 20
2002–03 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 30 38 68 103 4 1 1 2 4
2003–04 Detroit Red Wings NHL 82 25 28 53 117 12 1 5 6 20
2005–06 Detroit Red Wings NHL 82 40 41 81 105 6 1 1 2 6
2006–07 New York Rangers NHL 67 29 33 62 47 10 5 2 7 12
2007–08 New York Rangers NHL 73 23 23 46 35 10 1 4 5 8
2008–09 New Jersey Devils NHL 34 6 8 14 29 7 1 2 3 2
NHL totals 1524 656 698 1354 2489 184 60 74 134 280

International play[]

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Competitor for Flag of Canada Canada
Olympic Games
Gold 2002 Salt Lake City Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold 1994 Italy Ice hockey
Canada Cup
Gold 1991 Canada Cup Ice hockey
Silver 1996 World Cup of Hockey Ice hockey

Played for Canada in:

International statistics

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1987 Canada WJC 6 3 3 6 -
1991 Canada CC 8 2 0 2 6
1994 Canada WC 6 4 3 7 30
1996 Canada WCH 7 3 4 7 8
1998 Canada Oly. 6 2 0 2 0
2002 Canada Oly. 6 0 1 1 0
2006 Canada WC 8 3 1 4 10
Senior int'l totals 41 14 9 23 54

See also[]

References[]

  1. "Triple Gold Club". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved on 2009-01-19.
  2. "Shanny learning through RDO". NHL.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-17.
  3. "1989-90 New Jersey Devils [NHL]". Hockeydb. Retrieved on 2009-01-19.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Brendan Shanahan - Legends of Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2009-01-19.
  5. "Shanahan gets 1,000th point", CBC, 2002-03-23. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  6. "Bad blood flows as Wings blank Avs, Shanahan scores 500th", CBC, 2002-03-23. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  7. Shanahan signs 1-year deal with Rangers. AP (2006-07-09). Archived from the original on 2008-02-25. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Zinser, Lynn. "Jagr and Shanahan Ignite Rangers in Their Opener", NY Times, 2006-10-06. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  9. "Sakic and Shanahan named All-Star captains", Washington Post, 2007-01-18. Retrieved on 2009-01-18. 
  10. Angry Shanahan says refs are biased against Jagr. AP.
  11. Podell, Ira. "Rangers' Shanahan Released From Hospital", Washington Post, 2007-02-18. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  12. Podell, Ira. "Rangers re-sign Shanahan", New York Times, 2007-07-10. Retrieved on 2009-01-19. 
  13. "Veteran forward Brendan Shanahan signs with Devils". The Hockey News (2009-01-15). Retrieved on 2009-01-19.
  14. "Devils dump Predators". National Post (2009-01-19). Retrieved on 2009-01-19.
  15. "It's official: Shanahan re-signs with Devils". North Jersey Media Group (2009-08-05). Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved on 2009-08-05.
  16. The NHL without Brendan Shanahan is sadly now a reality
  17. Puck Daddy chats with Brendan Shanahan about coaching vs. Bowman, fixing NHL and his finale theory about 'Lost'
  18. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=298713
  19. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=508503

External links[]

Preceded by
Neil Brady
New Jersey Devils first round draft pick
1987
Succeeded by
Corey Foster
Preceded by
Pat Verbeek
Hartford Whalers captains
1995–96
Succeeded by
Kevin Dineen
Preceded by
Ron Francis
Winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy
2003
Succeeded by
Jarome Iginla
Preceded by
Ryan Smyth
Canadian World Championship captains
2006
Succeeded by
Shane Doan
This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Brendan Shanahan. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


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