Kevin Shattenkirk is working with his agent to come to the Rangers

By Anthony Scultore |

Jul 23, 2016

Shattenkirk in the Hamptons (Instagram)

Kevin Shattenkirk could already be on a new team, if he wanted to be. The Oilers were close to acquiring the 27 year old defenseman, but moved on when Shattenkirk told them he wouldn’t sign an extension.

The Bruins also tried to go after him hard at the draft but the demands from the Blues GM were ludicrous. Rumor has it that they wanted 2 first round picks and David Pasternak, which obviously caused them to balk.

New York State of Mind

There is also a rumor out there that seems to have merit due to the inability for the Blues to move Shattenkirk. According to the rumor mill, he is only willing to talk an extension with the New York Rangers.

A source based in the Hamptons where Shattenkirk spends most of his summers, and has ties to he and his agent, told me that they are trying to orchestrate a deal to the Rangers.

Shattenkirk was born in Greenwich, CT but grew up in Westchester, NY. He played High School hockey for New Rochelle and his twitter bio says “New Yorker at heart”. He really wants to play for his childhood favorite team.

Correction: Shattenkirk grew up in New Rochelle and attended Brunswick School in Greenwich.

Shattenkirk’s Twitter Profile

In 2014 he told StLouisBlues.com, “I think going home and playing in Madison Square Garden in front of my family is something I always dreamed of. I know sometimes my parents can’t believe it’s happening.” Now, just one year away from becoming a UFA he is in the driver’s seat of making that dream come true.

The fact that he is being stern about refusing to discuss an extension with any other team is handcuffing the Blues. Doug Armstrong can choose to hold on to him and watch his value plummet as he becomes a rental at the deadline. Or they can discuss a deal that makes sense with the Rangers who desperately need a top pairing RH defenseman.

It’s Becoming More Evident

All the cards are lined up for a deal between the two teams. The Rangers have cap space to take on the existing 4.25M in cap space. They could move Rick Nash and even eat half his salary for a year to make it work. Another option is to move Kevin Klein in order to unclutter the log jam now on defense with the additions of Nick Holden and Adam Clendening.

What is clear here is that the Rangers have the assets and the space to bring in Shattenkirk. The NY boy wants to come home and would definitely sign an extension with his dream club. All that’s missing are the Blues coming to their senses and making a deal happen.