Shanahan, You are the Man

On November 17, 2009 we saw an outstanding NHL career come to an end.  Despite resigning a one year deal in August with the team he got his start with in the National Hockey League , Shanahan and the Devils management decided that it was time to call an end to an illustrious career. They had agreed after the deal was signed that if a spot could not be found for the aging winger to feel like he was contributing the way he felt he could, that Shanahan would step aside for the better of the team. Six weeks later it was official, and we saw another great player retire. But what a career it was.

After having an outstanding year for the London Knights, in the 1987 NHL entry draft, Brendan Shanahan was selected second overall by the New Jersey Devils. A draft that saw Pierre Turgeon go first, Glen Wesley third, and Joe Sakic fifteenth overall. Shanahan’s stint in New Jersey lasted four seasons with his biggest offensive contribution coming in the 1989-90 season when he scored 30 goals and had 72 points in 73 games.

After the 90-91 season, Shanny became a restricted free agent and was signed by the St Louis Blues. Since he was restricted, the Blues owed something back to the Devils for signing the up and coming winger, and offered a package including Curtis Joseph, Rod Brind’Amour and various draft picks. But the Devils were really only interested in acquiring defensman Scott Stevens. So it was ruled in arbitration that Scott Stevens would be sufficient compensation for Shanahan and the deal was made.

In his second and third year with the Blues, Shanahan would score back to back 50 goal seasons (51 and 52), and having career highs in points with 94 and 102, respectively. While finding the back of the net so much, and setting up his teammates, Shanahan was doing what not many other prolific scorers were doing; mixing it up with a little offence. Shanny had 211 minutes in penalties that year he tallied 102 points, and failed only 4 times in his career to amass over 100 PIM’s in a season. He was a different breed of scorer, who could finees his way past any d-man and light the lamp, and then fight the guy the next period. Shanahan was my kind of player.

However, to his dismay, after the 94-95 season Shanahan was traded to the Hartford Whalers for defenceman Chris Pronger. Some questioned Blue’s management for making this trade, saying it was because of Shanahan’s involvement in ending linemate Craig Janney’s time with the Blues, along with his marriage (Shanahan is still currently married to Janney’s ex wife Catherine). Despite all that had happened Shanny continued to play his game in Hartford, scoring 44 goals in his first season with the Whalers. But the next season, with the teams future looking uncertain, Shanahan requested a trade out of Hartford, and just two games into the season he was sent to the Detroit Red Wings for Keith Primeau, Paul Coffey and a first round pick.  As if on cue, the first two years in Motor City Shanahan made an impact. Detroit won back to back Stanley Cups with the help of Shanahan’s offense, along with his physical play.

The next eight years would see Shanahan continuing to produce points for the Red Wings and make  All Star games on a continual basis. And Lets not forget the rough stuff. Since about the 96-97 season, the NHL has been keeping track of an “unofficial” stat that comes very rarely in the NHL today. Some of you might have already guessed, but for those of you that couldn’t, I’m talking about the Gordie Howe Hat Trick. This happens when a player scores a goal, records assist, and gets in a fight, all in the same game. It’s called a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, in tribute to one of hockeys best players ever, who also like to partake in the physical part of the game. Although its not certain how many Mr. Hockey had in his career, it still seems appropriate. Since they have been keeping track, Shanahan has recorded 9 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks, almost twice as many as the next player below him.

The 2001-02 season would be one to remember for Shanahan. The 6′3 225lb winger won his third cup with the Red Wings, a Gold Medal with Team Canada in Salt Lake at the Olympics and was named to the Second NHL All Star Team. The Red WIngs also won the Presidents Cup as the top team in the NHL during the regular season, dominating game in and game out. Two games would stand out above all othere that season, as we saw Shanahan record his 1000th career point and 500th career goal, on two different occasions. After two more season with the Wings, and a lockout season thrown in there as well, Shanny became a free agent and signed a one year deal with the New York Rangers.

In his Ranger’s debut, Shanahan recorded his 599th and 600th career goals, becoming just the fifteenth player to do so in NHL history at the time. Also that year, Shanahan won the inaugural Mark Messier Leadership Award, a monthly award given out by Mark Messier to a player who exemplifies leadership both on and off the ice. That year Shanahan would also appear in his 8th career All Star Game, being chosen to captain the Eastern Conference.  The next year, after finishing with 46 points, the lowest total since his rookie year, the Rangers decide not to re-sign the big winger.

Shanahan would sit out half of the 2008-09 season, until coming to an agreement with the team that drafted him so many years back. He provided grit and leadership to a younger Devils team, but they would eventually lose out in the first round of the playoffs to the Carolina Hurricanes.  As disappointing as it was, all good things must come to an end. With the type of game Shanny played, hard, gritty, and in your face all the time, it was only a matter of time before he could do it no more. He left behind a legacy of being one of the last true power forwards left in the game since Messier. Shanahan would finish 23rd on the all time NHL scoring list with 1354 points. He did this while finishing 22nd on the all time NHL penalty minute list with 2489 PIM. I will always remember Shanahan as being one of the best leaders in the game, who really wore his heart on his sleeve every time he played. Whether it was scoring that big goal to get the team going, or skating off the ice with a shattered ankle, he truly was exciting to watch. Thanks for the memories Shanny, we will definitely be seeing you inducted into the Hall of Fame in the near future.