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Tampa Bay’s Kevin Shattenkirk: One Team’s Trash Is Another Team’s Gold

Last year, Kevin Shattenkirk was bought out by the Rangers. Suddenly, he’s playing big minutes leading the Lightning. Nice turnaround.

Recently, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox offered some interesting insights about how many players who had been bought out last season had emerged during the 2019-20 regular season and were currently playing well with their respective teams during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.

Related: Steven Stamkos Could Return In Stanley Cup Final

Kevin Shattenkirk Was a Recent Buyout “Victim”

A number last season’s buyout “victims” have seemed to find a second life and are currently playing key roles on some very strong teams. As Fox noted, “One man’s trash and all that.”

Let’s take a look at who the Tampa Bay Lightning picked up from the “scrap heap” and who are now playing solid roles – including leadership roles – with the team.

On July 1, 2017, the New York Rangers signed Kevin Shattenkirk in free agency to what, at the time, seemed like a reasonable contract for one of the NHL’s top offensive defensemen. The contract called for Shattenkirk to receive $6.65 million dollars per season for four seasons.  Less than two years later, the Rangers bought out his contract.

Kevin Shattenkirk, Tampa Bay Lightning

The 31-year-old Shattenkirk emerged with the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a solid 2019-20 season. In the playoffs, he’s also done well. For example, in mid-August Shattenkirk was praised by his teammates and coaches after taking the dressing-room stage for a pep-talk during the second intermission of Game 5 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. For that “talk,” Shattenkirk was noted for his leadership.

Then, he backed up his talk with his play, stepping up when the Lightning was down two goals during the third period. Shattenkirk scored to bring the Lightning within a goal 4-3 and then the team won the game and the series in overtime. 

Then, during Game 1 of the series with the New York Islanders, Shattenkirk had a big night on the score sheet. He had three assists as the Lightning beat on the Islanders 8-2. Those three assists gave Shattenkirk five points over two games. Although he hadn’t scored a point during his first six post-season games, Shattenkirk then scored a goal and added seven assists during his last eight games.

Down One Game to None, There’s No Excuse

In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, although the Lightning lost to the Dallas Stars 4-1, Shattenkirk again took a leadership role with the team. He was clear that the Game 1 loss was not to be blamed on the Lightning’s quick turnaround from the Eastern Conference Final. In fact, the loss was a steal by the Stars goalie Anton Khudobin. In fact, the Lightning outshot the Stars 36-20 on the game and 22-2 during the final period.

Anton Khudobin Dallas Stars
Anton Khudobin Dallas Stars

Shattenkirk was clear that the Lightning were “not using that as a crutch. It is what it is … We obviously showed that we had our legs in the third. I think it was just more of a mental aspect of us seeing what Dallas brought to the table, and it took us a little bit of time to adjust to it. They’re obviously a really solid team defensively, so it’s hard to come back on them. I don’t want to sit here and say we were tired and that’s why we lost because we had some chances there to keep the game close.”

Related: Brayden Point Out of Game 5 Lineup for Lightning

Shattenkirk Was Knocked Down, But He Landed Well

Shattenkirk has become a team leader who’s had lots of time on the ice for Tampa Bay. In the process, he’s moved from a $6.65-million bust to a $1.75-million bargain.

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