Kevin Shattenkirk didn’t have to wait long to find his next team. He signed a one year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
Less than a week ago, the New York Rangers bought out defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, making him a free agent. Well, he didn’t have to wait long to find his new home. As of early Monday morning, Shattenkirk is taking his talents to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Lightning and Shattenkirk came to terms on a one-year pact. The value of the contract is reported to be $1.75 million. While Tampa lost a veteran defenseman this offseason in Anton Stralman, the signing leaves the Lightning with virtually no cap space.
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Tampa still needs to sign restricted free agent Brayden Point, so the Shattenkirk addition might complicate things. He joins more than a few ex-New York players with the Lightning, re-igniting the joke that the Lightning are “New York Rangers South”.
Shattenkirk’s tenure in New York was ill-fated. He signed with the team as the top free agency prize of 2017, after a short stint with the Washington Capitals following a trade from his original team the St. Louis Blues.
Shattenkirk joins a star-studded list of free agency busts who called Madison Square Garden home, such as Wade Redden, Bobby Holik, and Scott Gomez.
It was reported that Shattenkirk had other offers on the table, but chose the Lightning over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, and Winnipeg Jets.
It was also reported that at the time of his trade from the Blues in 2017, he vetoed a move and contract extension that would have sent him to Tampa Bay. Odd how things work out in hockey isn’t it.
If there’s one source of solace for Rangers fans, it’s that both of Shattenkirk’s former teams have won the Stanley Cup. In both cases, the championships came shortly after this departure. We’re not saying expect a parade down the Canyon of Heroes this upcoming season, but the superstitions are in your favor here, blue shirt fans.