Boston Bruins players career hits rock bottom after recent announcement
Kevin Shattenkirk remains on the sidelines as free agency slowly walks to a close. The two-way defenseman showed what he had, on a tough and worn-down Bruins team.
While still only playing as a depth defenseman, he showed in Jim Montgomery's system he could eat plenty of minutes, his TOI this season was 20:17.
Shattenkirk has a lot of valuable experience to offer the next NHL team to give the 35-year-old a chance. He has continued training, even with Trevor Zegras and Matt Rempe in preparation for the 2024 Shoulder Check Charity game.
While he did transition from the Anaheim Ducks top defenseman to a fringe and depth defenseman in Boston, he isn't ready to give it up just yet. Even with a dip in TOI with 15:47 in 61 games, he still managed to post 24 points( 6 G, 18 A), with 11 of those on the powerplay.
He could still offer the next team depth, an ability to play multiple roles on the ice, and had the third-best xg/60 on a terrible Ducks team in 2021-2022.
Shattenkirk is a defenseman, who has more than one tool available in his belt and this should make him an great depth option. Spending 14 years in the NHL has allowed him to build up his resume on ice.
Shattenkirk made a name for himself, playing second to Alex Pietrangelo in St. Louis after his arrival from Colorado in 2010, after posting 26 points in 46 games with the Avalanche.
He has since built himself into a defenseman teams should vie for, playing a strong two-way game with the help of former St. Louis Blues Ken Hitchcock.
With only a $1 Million dollar AAV, the next team to sign Shattenkirk would be getting a bargain for a 14-year NHL veteran.
The question is, who will pull the trigger?
| POLL | ||
Will Kevin Shattenkirk play in the NHL in 2024-2025? | ||
| Yes | 41 | 65.1 % |
| No | 22 | 34.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
