There's no place like home for Kevin Shattenkirk.
The New Rochelle, N.Y. native was this summer's most coveted free agent, and despite heavy interest from a handful of suitors, he made it a priority to play for his hometown Rangers, turning down more lucrative deals to do so.
"It's pretty surreal," Shattenkirk, who inked a four-year deal with the Rangers, told reporters Tuesday. "I think I am really privileged to play in the NHL every day. I don't take it for granted, but to have it now with my favorite team, that really hits home."
The move to New York marks the third stop in the last five months for Shattenkirk, who was traded from St. Louis to Washington at last year's trade deadline.
In joining the Rangers, Shattenkirk sees a chance to win, pointing to the team's mainstay between the pipes in Henrik Lundqvist, his potential blue-line partner in Ryan McDonagh, and an exciting crop of speedy forwards who make up the offensive ranks. But it's the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup as a Blueshirt that excites Shattenkirk most of all.
"Growing up and seeing, when teams win in New York, how well they're received from the fan base," Shattenkirk explained. "All of the pressure that you have to endure through those moments, if you can bring it home in New York, for me it's something that you can never replicate anywhere else."
Among the league's top puck-moving defensemen, Shattenkirk finished last season with 56 points, fourth-most in the NHL. It is Shattenkirk's skill set as an offensive contributor that is sure to help take the Rangers to the next level, and why there was mutual interest this summer in adding his services.
"It seems like every year (the Rangers) are making the moves to make their team a championship team," Shattenkirk said. "In that respect, it's kind of hard to see what the window is here because every year that I've been in the league (the Rangers) have been capable of winning a Stanley Cup."
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