Kris Versteeg
A versatile and tenacious forward whose journeyman career was punctuated by two Stanley Cup victories with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: May 13·Millennials
Biography
Kris Versteeg's hockey path was defined by adaptability and clutch performance. Never the biggest or most heralded player, he carved out a 14-year professional career through sheer hockey sense, quick hands, and a competitive fire that made him a valuable asset on any line. Drafted 134th overall by Boston in 2004, he truly found his footing after a trade to Chicago. There, as a key depth piece on a burgeoning dynasty, he hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2010, contributing crucial secondary scoring. His subsequent journey saw him wear the sweater of seven more NHL teams, a testament to his valued skill set, and he returned to Chicago to capture a second Cup in 2015. While injuries eventually slowed his pace, Versteeg's legacy is that of the ultimate complementary player—a smart, pesky winger who could slide into a top-six role or energize a checking line, always with a knack for showing up when it mattered most.
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.
Kris was born in 1986, 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 Kris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Kris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
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
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup twice as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, in 2010 and 2015.
- Recorded a career-high 52 points (21 goals, 31 assists) during the 2010-11 NHL season with the Florida Panthers.
- Represented Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, helping the team win a gold medal.
- Played over 600 regular season games in the NHL across ten different franchises.
Did You Know?
He is of Dutch-Indonesian descent through his mother.
After retiring, he co-founded a hockey training company called 'Versteeg Edge.'
He played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL, where he was a teammate of current NHL star Brent Seabrook.
He briefly played in Europe during the 2012-13 NHL lockout, suiting up for HC Lev Praha in the KHL.
“I built my career on being ready whenever the coach called my number.”
