Kevin Shattenkirk
A smooth-skating, offensive-minded defenseman whose powerful shot and playmaking vision made him a coveted asset for multiple NHL contenders over a long career.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: January 29·Millennials
Biography
Kevin Shattenkirk arrived in the NHL as a prototype of the new-age defenseman: a right-shot puck-mover with elite vision and a bomb from the point. Drafted 14th overall by Colorado, he quickly became a central piece in a trade to St. Louis, where he blossomed into one of the league's most productive blueliners. For years, he was the quarterback every team sought at the trade deadline, a testament to his skill and hockey IQ. After chasing a championship with several clubs, he found the perfect fit with the Tampa Bay Lightning, adapting his game to a supporting role and finally hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2020. His journey reflects the evolution of the NHL defenseman and the perseverance required to reach the sport's summit.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kevin was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020.
- Recorded a career-high 56 points (13 goals, 43 assists) in the 2014-15 season with the St. Louis Blues.
- Represented the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
- Scored an overtime goal in Game 2 of the 2020 Eastern Conference Final to help Tampa Bay defeat the New York Islanders.
Did You Know?
He played college hockey at Boston University, winning a national championship there in 2009 alongside fellow NHL stars like Colin Wilson and Matt Gilroy.
His father was a lawyer who represented several professional hockey players.
He was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the Washington Capitals in a blockbuster 2017 deal that involved multiple draft picks and players.
“A good first pass is the most important tool a defenseman can have.”
