Tuesday, February 15, 2011
BU Alum Shattenkirk Breaks Through
By Chris Peters – Special to USAHockey.com
After being selected 14th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Kevin Shattenkirk knew he had some work to do. Being a first-round draft pick brings notoriety, but can sometimes bring added pressure from management and fans.
However, a patient approach to development by the Avalanche and Shattenkirk, a product of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, has helped him get to the NHL and contribute in his rookie season.
At the beginning of the 2010-11 season, it looked like Shattenkirk was going to spend the year continuing his professional development with the American Hockey League’s Lake Erie Monsters. In fact, Shattenkirk skated in 10 games for the Monsters in October, but when an injury opened up a roster spot in Colorado, the Greenwich, Conn., native got the call on Nov. 3.
Early on, the call up looked like it would be temporary, but it soon became evident that Shattenkirk was not going to give the Avs a chance to send him back to the minors. It took seven games for Shattenkirk to tally his first NHL goal. He then posted at least one point in each of his next eight games, becoming just the second rookie defenseman in NHL history to compile a point streak of nine games or more.
Even though he knew he could play in the NHL, the fast start has surprised even the Avalanche rookie himself.
“I don’t think there’s anyone more surprised than me. I obviously knew that I had the confidence that I could play in this league and make an impact for Colorado,” Shattenkirk said.
“I also knew that it was a process and expected to be down in the minors for most of this year and hopefully back up and maybe a solid player on the team next year. For things to have worked out the way they have so far, it feels really great. Every day that passes here I enjoy it more than the last.”
Shattenkirk has been one of the top-scoring rookie defensemen in the NHL this season. His success has not gone unnoticed, as he was selected to be one of the 12 rookies to participate in the SuperSkills competition during the NHL’s All-Star weekend.
“[Getting selected] was great. Obviously I never really thought that would be an option this year, being called up so late and even being considered was pretty much out of my mind. Once I got the nomination and found out that I was going, I was super excited,” Shattenkirk said.
Despite the surprise start to his season, expectations of Shattenkirk have always been high. After getting drafted out of the NTDP, Shattenkirk headed to Boston University. He knew he had work to do to get to the NHL and live up to his first-round selection, but never felt the heat from the Avalanche to speed up the process.
“After getting drafted and everything, Colorado did a really great job with just watching my development,” he said. “They never really stepped in and said ‘Here’s your time frame, here’s where we want you in so many years’ and what have you. I think they put a lot of trust in my college coaches.”
As the NHL continues to get younger, there is a perceived rush to get to the NHL. Shattenkirk felt Colorado’s patient approach allowed him to develop into an NHL defenseman.
“[Avalanche management] always said ‘We support your decision to do what you want’ and just kind of watched me along the way. I was very fortunate in that. It adds a lot of pressure on guys to feel like they have to develop their game to a certain point at a certain time and some guys obviously take longer than others,” Shattenkirk said.
The experience Shattenkirk gained at Boston University proved quite valuable. He helped lead the Terriers to the 2009 National Championship, assisting on the overtime game-winner in the title game against Miami University. The following year, he was named captain, the first junior to serve as the lone captain at BU since 1961-62.
“As far as playing at BU, it was unbelievable. I used to watch Hockey East as a kid, growing up in the Northeast area. It was always something that I always aspired to do and play college hockey,” he said.
Shattenkirk also felt his time spent at the NTDP went a long way in helping him reach his NHL dreams.
“As far as the two years there for me, they were probably the most beneficial and impacting years of my career,” he said. “I came in there as a pretty raw talent and all the coaches there, Coach (Ron) Rolston especially, knew that and they just worked with me over the two years and really just completed my game and turned me into an all-around player.”
Like at BU, Shattenkirk served as the captain in his final year at the NTDP. He helped lead the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team to the silver medal at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and was named the tournament’s best defenseman.
While Shattenkirk loved the challenge of playing against international opponents, he relished the opportunity to see the world.
“I think just having the experience of going to different countries as well, as young kids, and pretty much just seeing different cultures that few teenagers get that chance to do. We had a blast,” he said.
Another big step in Shattenkirk’s pre-NHL career was playing for the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. After getting cut from the team the previous year, Shattenkirk was determined to make an impact. With eight assists in the tournament, Shattenkirk was named one of Team USA’s three best players. In addition to the honor of wearing his country’s colors again, reuniting with old NTDP teammates was among the highlights of his World Junior experience.
“I was so excited obviously to go and especially having it in Canada was special. Being there with kind of all the same guys or most of the same guys that I was there with at the NTDP was just great to see.”
With NTDP alumni littering the Colorado organization, Shattenkirk is in familiar company most of the time.
“There’s a ton of us here. We all have our stories. A few guys have their laughs,” he said. “It’s a pretty tight community and even when you’re playing against guys who have played there, everyone acknowledges each other, which is kind of nice.”
Despite today’s prospects’ desire to get to the NHL as fast as possible, Shattenkirk feels that patience might be the most important attribute for a young player with NHL aspirations.
“I think my best advice would just be, not to rush. Every player has a different time frame. If you are a good enough player to play at the NHL level, you’re going to make it at some point in your life,” he said.
“It’s important to really fully develop and fully hone your game because you want to get to the league and be there for a few years. Just don’t pressure yourself to do anything that you don’t think will be beneficial in the long run.”
As Shattenkirk has proven this season, it’s worth the wait.