Kevin Klein, the gritty, physical Rangers defender who helped guide them to a Stanley Cup appearance three years ago but whose nagging back injury slowed him down last season, announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday.
“Thank you to the fans of both cities (New York and Nashville) for their appreciation,” Klein, 32, said in a statement, also thanking his family, and the Rangers and Predators, with whom he began his NHL career. “I couldn’t have been happier to play in front of you. I’ll miss all the friends I’ve made along the way from the staff to the guys I played with ... I am looking forward to many great years with my extended family. Again Thank You.”
Klein ends his career having played 627 games between the two teams, racking up 38 goals, 116 assists and a plus-22 rating. His best years came with the Rangers, with whom he played parts of the final four seasons of his career, beginning in January 2014.
Klein was integral in helping them recover from a 1-3 deficit to the Penguins in the Eastern Conference second round, and scored a goal in their 5-1 rout in Game 5 in Pittsburgh. He scored nine even-strength goals in both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 season. He had 75 penalty minutes in his time with the Rangers and was second among team defensemen in goals, points, and 414 hits.
With one year and $2.75 million left on his contract, Klein’s retirement saves the Rangers $2.9 million in cap space. It’s yet unclear if Klein, who played only 60 games last year because of his back and was a healthy scratch for all but one game of the playoffs, will look to play hockey elsewhere.
“Kleiner, together we thank and salute you!” the Rangers wrote on Twitter, with an accompanying video with some of the highlights of his career in New York, including overtime winners against the Penguins, Devils and Red Wings.
The righty defenseman was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NHL entry draft and played nine seasons, going to the playoffs seven times in that span.
Former Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Avalanche center Mikhail Grigorenko returned to Russia, signing a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. Grigorenko was Buffalo’s first-round pick (12th overall) in 2012 but failed to live up to expectations in the NHL during three seasons with the Sabres and the last two for the Avalanche.
Meanwhile Anaheim Ducks signed forward Dennis Rasmussen to a one-year contract through the 2017-18 season. The 27-year-old centre had eight goals, nine assists, a plus-5 rating and 16 penalty minutes in 112 career NHL games.