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Steven Santini
Born (1995-03-07)March 7, 1995,
Bronxville, New York, U.S.
Height
Weight
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
F. teams
Nashville Predators
New Jersey Devils
Ntl. team  United States of America
NHL Draft 42nd overall, 2013
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2016–present

Steven Michael Santini (born March 7, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Nashville Predators in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey team of the NCAA Hockey East conference. Santini was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 2nd round (42nd overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career[]

Amateur[]

As a youth, Santini played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the New York Rangers minor ice hockey team.[2]

Santini was rated as a top prospect who had been projected as a first round selection of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.[3] He trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team from 2011 to 2013,[4] and won a Silver Medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships[5] where he was named the tournament's best defenseman.[6]

In his first season at Boston College, Santini earned his role as a top-4 defensemen with the Eagles, garnering a reputation as a hard-hitting, shut-down defenseman, while also producing 3 goals and 11 points on the season. He was named to Hockey East's All-Rookie team.[7] He also played at the 2014 World Juniors for the United States.

Santini started his sophomore campaign paired with freshman Noah Hanifin as the top-2 defenseman for the Eagles, however, he only played in four games to start the season before being shut down due to a wrist injury. He underwent surgery, missed 16 games and returned to the lineup after the New Year's break.[8][9]

He scored one goal and assisted on 19 as a junior, while helping the BC Eagles to a Frozen Four appearance where they fell short to Quinnipiac.[10]

Professional[]

He signed a three-year entry level deal with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League on April 9, 2016.[11] He played his first NHL game later that night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[12]

Santini scored his first NHL point in his 2016–17 NHL debut, during a 3-0 win over the Boston Bruins on January 2, 2017.[13] He scored his first NHL goal on January 12, 2017, against the Edmonton Oilers, due to a puck deflecting off his elbow. The Devils ended up losing in overtime 3–2.[14]

As a restricted free agent, Santini signed a three-year, $4.25 million contract with the Devils on August 14, 2018.[15]

On June 22, 2019, Santini was traded by the Devils along with prospect Jeremy Davies and draft picks to the Nashville Predators in exchange for P. K. Subban.[16]

Career statistics[]

Regular season and playoffs[]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Brewster Bulldogs EmJHL 17 1 5 6 42
2010–11 New York Apple Core EJHL 44 3 14 17 26 5 0 1 1 0
2011–12 U.S. National Development Team USHL 36 1 4 5 41 2 0 1 1 0
2012–13 U.S. National Development Team USHL 25 0 5 5 6
2013–14 Boston College HE 35 3 8 11 52
2014–15 Boston College HE 22 1 4 5 20
2015–16 Boston College HE 41 1 18 19 50
2015–16 New Jersey Devils NHL 1 0 0 0 2
2016–17 New Jersey Devils NHL 38 2 5 7 14
2016–17 Albany Devils AHL 20 0 2 2 35 4 0 2 2 0
2017–18 New Jersey Devils NHL 36 2 8 10 21
2017–18 Binghamton Devils AHL 27 3 3 6 8
2018–19 New Jersey Devils NHL 39 1 3 4 16
2018–19 Binghamton Devils AHL 3 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 54 2 10 12 39
2019–20 Nashville Predators NHL 2 0 0 0 2
NHL totals 116 5 16 21 55

International[]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 United States U17 5 1 0 1 16
2013 United States WJC18 7 0 0 0 0
2014 United States WJC 5th 5 1 0 1 4
2016 United States WC 4th 10 0 0 0 2
Junior totals 17 2 0 2 20
Senior totals 10 0 0 0 2

Awards and honours[]

Award Year
College
All-Hockey East Rookie Team 2013–14 [17]
Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman 2015–16 [18]
International
IIHF World U18 Championship Best Defenseman 2013 [19]

References[]

  1. Steven Santini: 2013 NHL Draft Player Profile #39. Last Word On Sports (2013-05-20). Retrieved on 2013-05-20.
  2. Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA (2018).
  3. New York Hockey Journal: Prospect Pulse: Santini a package deal
  4. Steven Santini – The Next Ones: NHL 2013 Draft Prospect Profile
  5. USA Under-18 hockey team has to settle for silver medal - MaxWire National Blog - MaxPreps
  6. U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team Falls to Canada, 3-2 - Junior Hockey News
  7. 2014 Hockey East award winners. Hockey East (2014-03-24). Retrieved on 2014-03-24.
  8. BC's Santini out for remainder of season. collegehockeynews.com (2014-10-28). Retrieved on 2017-02-03.
  9. Steve Santini - 2015-16 Men's Hockey.
  10. Devils sign former BC Eagles Santini, Wood to entry-level contracts.
  11. Devils sign Boston College defenseman Santini (2016-04-09).
  12. No NCAA title for Steve Santini and Miles Wood, but they'll make their NHL debuts (April 9, 2016). Retrieved on 22 February 2017.
  13. "Mahopac native Santini picks up first NHL point as Devils top Bruins", The Journal News, January 2, 2017. Retrieved on August 14, 2018. 
  14. "Mahopac native Steven Santini's 1st NHL goal will be 'funny' memory", The Journal News, January 13, 2017. Retrieved on August 14, 2018. 
  15. Santini signs three-year contract with Devils (August 14, 2018).
  16. Predators trade Subban to Devils. TSN. Retrieved on 23 June 2019.
  17. LEAGUE ANNOUNCES PRO AMBITIONS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
  18. HE present Award winners. Hockey East (2016-03-28). Retrieved on 2016-03-28.
  19. U.S. falls to Canada, 3-2, in Gold-Medal Game at 2013 IIHF U-18 Men's World Championship

External links[]

Preceded by
Mike Paliotta
Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman
2015–16
Succeeded by
Dennis Gilbert
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