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The Rangers have plenty of key decisions to make this summer. One big call that requires careful thought is the future of veteran defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
Remember when the Rangers signed Shattenkirk to a four-year, $26.6 million contract on the first day of 2017 free agency? The deal was immediately hailed as a big win for the Rangers, as they had added a premier offensive-defenseman without a back-breaking contract length.
Two years later, it’s fair to say that the Rangers haven’t gotten adequate value for their money spent. Shattenkirk’s points-per-game average as a Ranger is 0.43. That’s quite a dip from his total of 0.61 points-per-game across seven years in St. Louis.
Injuries have been a factor. Shattenkirk’s decision to play through a torn meniscus in the first year of the deal robbed him of the speed that fueled his production in his finest campaigns. His legs have slowed, and he is also failing to make quick decisions.
It’s not unusual for defensemen to start to decline as they near the age of 30. That said, no one expected a perennial 40-55 point defenseman like Shattenkirk to experience such a dramatic fall from grace.
He was brought here because of his ability to make fast plays out of the defensive end, his excellence in transition and offensive acumen. To date, Shattenkirk has recorded 19 power-play points through 119 games as a Ranger. Twenty-six or 25 power-play points used to be his norm in a single season. His total of seven power-play points in 73 games and a 1.4% shooting accuracy on 148 shots this past season speaks to how sharply Shattenkirk has declined.
Granted, these rebuilding Rangers teams aren’t loaded on the blue line like the past Blues’ rosters that Shattenkirk was a member of. There’s a big difference between having Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko and Jay Bouwmeester on the back end and the present-day Rangers incorporating youth on the fly.
When Shattenkirk joined the Blueshirts, Ryan McDonagh was leading the way as an influential captain and all-around defenseman. Seven months and 25 days later, Ryan McDonagh was shipped to the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of an organizational pivot toward youth.
It’s possible that Shattenkirk will be sacrificed in the form of a trade where the Rangers are forced to eat some of his contract. This all depends on how the Rangers view the speed of their rebuild and how they envision Shattenkirk’s worth.
If the Rangers are interested in adding a prime-age, top-four defenseman through free agency or a trade, Shattenkirk could be surplus to requirements. His presence could also limit opportunities for younger, high-upside defensemen in need of NHL minutes. If the Rangers could lose some of Shattenkirk’s $6.65 million cap hit, or Brendan Smith’s $4.35 million cap charge, it would allow more flexibility to pursue talented players on their wish list. But that’s only if the Rangers think they’re close to competing for the playoffs and are desperate to cut bait with Shattenkirk and/or Smith.
I’m not in favor of moving Shattenkirk when his trade value is at its lowest. I also think it’s too early to give up on him. It’s possible that enough rest and conditioning will allow Shattenkirk to unlock his true ability. I still think he’s a quality defenseman whose career can be salvaged. There’s been a decline, but we’re not talking about a Wade Redden-level precipitous drop-off.
Shattenkirk is too talented to just send packing as a salary dump at this stage of his career. I could certainly envision a playoff-ready team adding the Boston University alum at a low cost, then revitalizing his career. The Rangers can’t fall into that trap.
It’s worth giving Shattenkirk another chance to heal up and get his game together so he can prove himself on Broadway. Ranger fans haven’t seen the real Shattenkirk yet. I’m inclined to think that underneath the disappointment and nagging injuries, there’s still a difference-making defenseman that can be unearthed.