Kevin Klein

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Lore & Background

Kevin Klein's NHL career began after he was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the second round, 37th overall, at the 2003 NHL entry draft. He played four years of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)—three with the Toronto St. Michael's Majors and one with the Guelph Storm—then spent most of the next three seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville's AHL affiliate. During the 2006–07 season on January 26, 2007, Klein scored his first career NHL goal against the Chicago Blackhawks. On July 16, 2008, he signed a two-year, $1.3 million contract extension with the Predators and played 63 games in the 2008–09 season. In 2009–10, he played his first full season, recording two goals and 16 assists for 18 points in 81 games. In September 2012, Nashville signed Klein to a five-year, $14.5 million contract extension; he responded with three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 47 games during the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season. On January 22, 2014, Klein was traded by the Predators to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Michael Del Zotto.

In Their Own Story

On December 9, 2014, while playing for the New York Rangers, Klein lost part of his left ear on a high stick in the first period of a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had it stitched back on, came back to play, and scored the game-winning goal in overtime. In the 2016–17 season, Klein suffered from back spasms and remained a healthy scratch by New York for most of the team's post-season run. On July 7, at age 32, Klein forfeited nearly $3 million in salary from the final year left on his contract with the Rangers in announcing his retirement from the NHL. Having expressed desire to continue his career abroad, on July 14, 2017, Klein signed a one-year contract with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He made his NL debut on September 8, 2017, against the SCL Tigers at the Ilfis Stadium and scored his first goal that same day, an OT game-winning goal. After being crowned Swiss champion in April 2018, Klein signed a one-year contract extension with the Lions on May 23, 2018. Following his second season with the Lions, enduring a disappointing 2018–19 for ZSC in failing to qualify for the post-season, Klein announced his retirement from his professional career on March 25, 2019.

Reader's Guide

Kevin Klein played as a defenceman for the Nashville Predators from his draft year in 2003 until his trade on January 22, 2014. He was selected in the second round, 37th overall, at the 2003 NHL entry draft. After junior hockey in the OHL and time with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, Klein scored his first NHL goal on January 26, 2007, against the Chicago Blackhawks. He signed a two-year, $1.3 million contract extension on July 16, 2008, and played 63 games in the 2008–09 season. His first full NHL season came in 2009–10, with two goals and 16 assists for 18 points in 81 games. In September 2012, he signed a five-year, $14.5 million contract extension and recorded three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 47 games during the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season. Klein was traded to the New York Rangers on January 22, 2014, in exchange for Michael Del Zotto. He later played two seasons as an alternate captain of the ZSC Lions of the NL, winning the Swiss championship in April 2018, before retiring on March 25, 2019.

Did You Know?

• Kevin Klein scored his first career NHL goal on January 26, 2007, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
• On December 9, 2014, Klein lost part of his left ear on a high stick, had it stitched back on, and scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
• Klein forfeited nearly $3 million in salary from the final year of his Rangers contract when he announced his retirement from the NHL on July 7, 2017.
• He made his NL debut for the ZSC Lions on September 8, 2017, and scored an OT game-winning goal in that same game.
• Klein was crowned Swiss champion with the ZSC Lions in April 2018.