Rangers D Klein retires from NHL after 12 seasons

New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday after parts of 12 seasons in the league.

Klein, 32, played in 627 career NHL games with the Rangers and Nashville Predators, recording 154 points (38 goals, 116 assists) and 185 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut as a member of the Predators on Dec. 3, 2005, against the Philadelphia Flyers -- 10 days shy of his 21st birthday. He made his first career NHL goal/point on Jan. 26, 2007, against the Chicago Blackhawks.

"I would like to thank both the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers organizations for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of playing in the NHL," Klein said in a statement. "Thank you to the fans of both cities for their appreciation. I couldn't have been happier to play in front of you. I will miss all the friends I've made along the way, from the staff to the guys I've played with.

"I'd like to thank my parents for everything they have done for me and for their constant love and support. Most importantly, my wife Jodi and our boys, Joseph and Oliver, who have sacrificed the most over the years. I am looking forward to many great years with my extended family."

The 6-foot-1, 206-pound Klein was acquired by the Rangers in a trade from Nashville on Jan. 22, 2014. He skated in 224 career regular-season games with the Rangers over parts of four seasons (2013-14 to 2016-17), totaling 72 points (22 goals, 50 assists) and 75 penalty minutes.

Klein helped his team advance to the playoffs in seven of his nine full seasons in the NHL, including each of his four seasons with the Rangers. He played in 73 career NHL playoff games, registering four goals, 15 assists and 27 penalty minutes. Klein established playoff career-highs in games played (25) during the 2014 playoffs while helping the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Kitchener, Ontario, native played parts of nine seasons with Nashville (2005-06 to 2013-14), recording 82 points (16 goals, 66 assists) in 403 games.

Klein was originally selected by Nashville in the second round (37th overall) of the 2003 NHL draft.

NYR TODAY FRI 5/13: NYR Grades, Alumni, TDINYRH

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
KEVIN KLEIN Defenseman

At times the best defensive defenseman on the 2015-2016 season a plus 16 in 69 games Klein collected 9 goals and 17 assists, 4 of those goals coming as game winners. Klein logged in an average of 13 minutes of ice time per game this season and battled through 2 hand injuries. Still with 2 years left on a 5 year contract that he signed with Nashville before being traded to the Rangers for Michael Del Zotto in 2013-2014, Klein will make 2.75 million each year, a reasonable contract on a high paid defense. With Yandle and Boyle possibly leaving the Rangers in their UFA year it will be up to Klein to steer the younger crop of D-Men in the right direction.
GRADE B

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/13 
Bill Heindl LW (1972-1973) Jim Hiller RW (1993-1994)

Today in NYR History May 13

2013: Henrik Lundqvist makes 35 saves as the Rangers defeat the Washington Capitals, 5-0, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. It's the first road Game 7 victory in franchise history.

2014: The Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-1, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The win completes the comeback from the Rangers being down 3-1 in the series.

2015: Derek Stepan scores in overtime of Game 7 against the Washington Capitals to send the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final.

Rangers defenseman Klein injures right thumb

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

In Tuesday night's game against the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein suffered a broken thumb.

Klein as of now is out indefinitely.

Klein, the 37th pick overall in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft, has three goals and 7 assists so far in 38 games played with the Rangers this season.

Stalberg Joins Girardi & Klein In Lineup Return Tonight

Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault confirmed following Monday's morning skate at Bridgestone Arena that both Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein will return to the lineup following extended injury absences tonight when the team faces off with the Predators in Nashville.

Girardi and Klein will not be the only veterans making a return this evening. Back up goaltender Antti Raanta will dress for the first time in four games following a head injury, and winger Viktor Stalberg draws back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous two games.

"It's how it goes sometimes, but it's good to be back," Stalberg said prior to facing his former team this evening. "In the big scheme of things I feel good about my game, but the past few maybe it's not as good as I would have liked. We have a good team, so if you're not on your A Game you'll find yourself out of the lineup."

Stalberg, who signed with the Rangers as a free agent his past summer after a pair of admittedly unfulfilling seasons with the Predators, has scored three goals, added six assists, totaled nine points, and owns a +6 plus/minus rating this year so far in 30 games played. The last time he was scratched from the lineup prior to the previous two matches--December 11 at Edmonton--Stalberg responded with assists in each of his next two outings.

"For me it's getting back to being a little more physical out there, playing more the way I did earlier in the year," explained the 29 year-old Stalberg. "Sometimes you get away from how you're supposed to play in the middle of the season, but I think I want to be more of a factor every time I'm out on the ice, be more physical and bring more energy."

Stalberg will play at even strength on a line with Dominic Moore and Tanner Glass tonight. Vigneault also stressed that he will play a big role on the penalty kill against the red-hot Nashville power play which is quarterbacked by two of the top quarterbacks in the league, Shea Weber and Roman Josi.

"They're good, one of the top (group of) defensemen in the league, and that's where they generate so much of their offense from," offered Stalberg. "Their forwards have not done much this season, but their defensemen have been really good. They are not easy to play against."

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Klein, another former Predator, will return to the Rangers lineup this evening after missing 11 straight games with an oblique injury. He told reporters that not rushing back and taking advantage of the full five-day Christmas holiday break really was key to his recovery.

"I think the extra five days off just to help make sure I was ready is a real positive," Klein told reporters after the morning skate. "I was able to skate on my own and work out a few times over the break and keep fresh; and I felt really good out there this morning."

Klein will pair with Keith Yandle on the blue line, while Girardi will skate alongside Ryan McDonagh.

Vigneault joked after the skate, "I looked at Danny the past two days...he's almost brand new, or as brand new as that old body can be!"

Jim Cerny
BlueshirtsUnited.com

NYR MORNING SKATE REPORT/INTERVIEWS 12/14

Stepan and Klein Practice On Monday

The Rangers returned home from a fairly dismal 0-2-1 road trip through Western Canada and were greeted with a happy sight Monday afternoon at their optional practice. Both of the team's key injured players--Derek Stepan and Kevin Klein--were back on the ice with their teammates taking part in the workout, albeit wearing the bright yellow non-contact jerseys.
"It's good to see because they are two guys who mean a lot to this team," stated goaltender Henrik Lundqvist after practice. "It's good to see (their recoveries) are going in the right direction. I don't how much longer before they play, but it's good to have them out there (practicing) again."
Stepan and Klein have been skating together while the team was out west, and both said on Monday that they "felt good" in their initial practice following their respective injuries.
The Rangers lost Stepan and Klein in a four-day span in late November. Stepan suffered broken ribs when checked into the boards by Boston's Matt Beleskey on November 27, while Klein suffered an oblique injury on November 30 in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"It felt good to be out there with the guys," said Klein. "It was Step and my first time out there and I think it went pretty well for the most part. That was the first hard skate, so I'm just getting my legs back and making sure it reacts well tomorrow to what we did today."
Klein added that he thinks the injury "is pretty close" to being healed, but he would not speculate as to a return date. Neither would Stepan, who said that "it's weird with ribs in how they heal".
Head coach Alain Vigneault said that if both players feel good Tuesday then they could take part in the morning skate at Madison Square Garden before the Rangers face off with the Edmonton Oilers, though, of course, neither would be able to play in the actual game.
"You have that inner person that wants to be out there with the boys as bad as possible," stated Klein. "If it was just a pain thing I could be out there playing no problem, but it's the fact that your core, you use so much of it in every aspect of the game, you don't want to be out there hurting the team or reinjuring it."
Klein explained that his oblique was sore before that game against Carolina and then he heard it pop during a play and knew immediately he was hurt.
As for Stepan he explained that his focus was on being "the eyes" for teammate Kevin Hayes while making a pass to him during that contest with the Bruins right before getting hit by Beleskey.
"I never saw (Beleskey) coming," explained Stepan. "When I made the pass I was trying to protect (Hayes). I wasn't protecting myself, I guess. I was trying to be (Hayes') eyes."
Jim Cerny
BlueshirtsUnited.com

VIDEO: "We have to stay positive"-#NYR @HLundqvist30 speaks with media after practice: http://nyrange.rs/1QpgM7S  

VIDEO: "It felt good to get back on the ice with the guys"-#NYR @DerekStepan21: http://nyrange.rs/1O0rmvr

Klein out 2-3 Weeks With Strained Oblique

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein will miss 2-3 weeks with a strained oblique muscle, coach Alain Vigneault said Tuesday.

Klein was injured in the first period of the Rangers' 4-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.

"From what I saw he did it to himself skating back [into the Rangers' zone]," Vigneault said. "But he said in the morning [Monday] that they worked on him and he felt tight."

With injuries to Klein and center Derek Stepan (out 4-6 weeks with broken ribs), the Rangers are down to six healthy defensemen and 12 healthy forwards for their game against the New York Islanders at Barclays Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports).

Vigneault said they don't expect to recall anybody from Hartford of the American Hockey League until they go on the road next week or unless someone else gets hurt because they don't have to travel for their next three games.

In addition to playing the Islanders, the Rangers are at home against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and the Ottawa Senators on Sunday before going to Western Canada for three games next week.

Vigneault said they should be able to recall a forward and a defenseman for the road trip because Stepan can go on long-term injured reserve. He would be required to miss 10 games or 24 days if he goes on LTIR. He has already missed two games and isn't expected back anytime soon.

"We can have some relief there," Vigneault said.

Vigneault said Dylan McIlrath will get an opportunity with Klein out to play consistently. He has played in only six of 25 games this season.

"Dylan is going to slip in there and this is going to give him an opportunity, at least for the next 2-3 weeks here, to show that he's NHL-ready and that he can come in and contribute," Vigneault said.

Klein had six points and a plus-11 rating while averaging 21:02 of ice time through 24 games before getting hurt Monday. He set career-highs with nine goals and 26 points last season.

Klein Reflects on Trade Before Facing Former Team

Photo by Jared Silber/ MSG Photos

While it hasn’t even been two years, defenseman Kevin Klein said it feels like a long time ago since the Jan. 22, 2014 trade that sent him to New York from Nashville.

“It seems a very long time ago,” Klein told reporters Monday morning, hours before taking on his former team, the Predators at Madison Square Garden. “A lot of things have happened. I’ve played a lot of games with [the Rangers]. It’s two deep playoff runs. It’s been really exciting.”

Klein said the games against Nashville are special in that he gets to play against former teammates and friends, but that two points is all that matters despite any pregame pleasantries.

“You want to beat them. You want to beat them every time you play them,” Klein said. “It’s just fun. It’s the camaraderie of the League. Every team has guys you played against or played with on it. It’s fun.”

Klein played parts of nine seasons with the Predators, becoming a full-time D-man in 2008-09. When he left the Music City, he had amassed 16 goals and 66 assists for 82 points in 403 games, which is fifth-most in franchise history among defensemen.

Klein has had success in New York, especially offensively. The 30-year-old has 13 goals and 37 points in 115 games. Klein is also a plus-40 with the Rangers; he was a minus-27 in Nashville.

“You’re disappointed when [the trade] first happens,” Klein said. “You don’t know what to expect going forward. A lot of good has come from that and I’m thankful for that.”

Head coach Alain Vigneault said he knew what type of player Klein was from his days in Vancouver, so he had an idea of what was coming back in return for defenseman Michael Del Zotto.

“He was in my book a real effective player for [Nashville],” Vigneault said. “He was playing in their top-four, playing against one of my top lines. He was a good stay at home type defenseman. 

“It’s worked well for us,” Vigneault added.

Now approaching two years in the Big Apple, Klein said he’s happy to be a Ranger and call New York home.

“It’s a thing of the past,” Klein said of the deal. “You’ve got friends over there still. I’ve got a lot of friends and met a lot of new people here. It’s been amazing. You become a Ranger when you put on that uniform, and you feel like a Ranger. It’s been amazing.”

By Matt Calamia