Kevin Klein

Last updated
Kevin Klein
Kevin Klein - New York Rangers.jpg
Klein as a Ranger in October 2014.
Born (1984-12-13) December 13, 1984 (age 38)
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Nashville Predators
Herlev Eagles
New York Rangers
ZSC Lions
NHL Draft 37th overall, 2003
Nashville Predators
Playing career 20042019

Kevin R. Klein (born December 13, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the New York Rangers and the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 37th overall, by the Nashville Predators at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He completed his 15 year career playing two seasons as an alternate captain of the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL).

Contents

Playing career

Klein as a Predator. Kevin Klein.jpg
Klein as a Predator.

Klein was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the second round, 37th overall, at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He played four years of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), three with the Toronto St. Michael's Majors and one with the Guelph Storm. Following junior hockey, he played the majority of the next three seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.

During the 2006–07 season on January 26, 2007, Klein scored his first career NHL goal, which came against the Chicago Blackhawks.

On July 16, 2008, Klein signed a two-year, $1.3 million contract extension with the Predators. [1] He played a total 63 games with the Predators in the 2008–09 season.

In the following season, 2009–10, Klein played his first full season with the Predators, recording two goals and 16 assists for 18 points in 81 games.

In September 2012, Nashville signed Klein to a five-year, $14.5 million contract extension. [2] He responded by scoring three goals and handing out 11 assists for 14 points in 47 games during the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season.

On January 22, 2014, Klein was traded by the Predators to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Michael Del Zotto. [3]

On December 9, 2014, Klein lost part of his left ear on a high stick in the first period of a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had it stitched back on, came back to play, and scored the game-winning goal in overtime. [4]

In the 2016–17 season, Klein suffered from back spasms and remained a healthy scratch by New York for most of the teams post-season run. [5] In the offseason, on July 7, at the age of 32, Klein forfeited nearly $3 million in salary from the final one year left on his contract with the Rangers in announcing his retirement from the NHL. [5]

Having expressed desire in continuing his career abroad, on July 14, 2017, Klein signed a one-year contract with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). [6] He made his NL debut on September 8, 2017, against the SCL Tigers at the Ilfis Stadium and scored his first goal that same day, an OT game-winning goal. After being crowned Swiss champion in April 2018, Klein signed a one-year contract extension with the Lions on May 23, 2018.

Following his second season with the Lions, enduring a disappointing 2018–19 for ZSC in failing to qualify for the post-season, Klein announced his retirement from his professional career on March 25, 2019. [7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1999–2000Kitchener Jr. Rangers AAA Bantam 5412294140
2000–01 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHL 5831619211805517
2001–02 Toronto St. Michael's MajorsOHL6852227351527912
2002–03 Toronto St. Michael's MajorsOHL67113344881719108
2003–04 Toronto St. Michael's MajorsOHL50112
2003–04 Guelph Storm OHL4662329402210112112
2004–05 Rockford Icehogs UHL 32130
2004–05 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 654121622700011
2005–06 Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL761032423121371031
2005–06 Nashville Predators NHL 20000
2006–07 Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL70515206741010
2006–07 Nashville PredatorsNHL31010
2007–08 Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL90332
2007–08 Nashville PredatorsNHL130226
2008–09 Nashville PredatorsNHL63481219
2009–10 Nashville PredatorsNHL81110112760224
2010–11 Nashville PredatorsNHL812161824121236
2011–12 Nashville PredatorsNHL66417214102242
2012–13 Herlev Eagles DEN 812329
2012–13 Nashville PredatorsNHL47311149
2013–14 Nashville PredatorsNHL4712321
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL301560251346
2014–15 New York RangersNHL659172625140442
2015–16 New York RangersNHL69917261950117
2016–17 New York RangersNHL60311143110110
2017–18 ZSC Lions NL 451012226017391216
2018–19 ZSC LionsNL4710142416
NHL totals62738116154185734151927

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
2002Canada Ontario U17 40006
2004 Canada WJC 60000
Junior totals100006

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References

  1. "Predators re-sign Klein to 2-year deal". nhl.com. 2008-07-16. Archived from the original on 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  2. "Predators sign Klein to 5-year contract". National Hockey League . 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  3. "Michael Del Zotto traded to Predators, Kevin Klein to Rangers". CBS Sports . 2014-01-22. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  4. "Klein loses part of his ear, wins game in OT". ESPN. 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  5. 1 2 "Rangers defenceman Kevin Klein announces retirement". Rogers Communications. July 7, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  6. "From New York to Zurich - ZSC Lions sign defenseman Kevin Klein". swisshockeynews.ch. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  7. "ZSC transfers". ZSC Lions (in German). 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2019-03-25.