Ron Hainsey

Ronald Martin Hainsey (born March 24, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played seventeen years in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, playing over 1,100 career NHL games.

Ron Hainsey
Hainsey with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017
Born (1981-03-24) March 24, 1981
Bolton, Connecticut, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Columbus Blue Jackets
Atlanta Thrashers
Winnipeg Jets
Carolina Hurricanes
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators
National team  United States
NHL Draft 13th overall, 2000
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 2001–2020

Hainsey played in the NHL for nearly 16 years (907 games) before playing on a team that made the playoffs, longer than any other player in league history beating the previous record of 799 games held by Olli Jokinen. He then won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in his debut playoff appearance, finishing second in ice time for the playoffs in place of the injured Kris Letang.[1] His record was later passed by Jeff Skinner in 2023.

Early life

Hainsey was born on March 24, 1981, in Bolton, Connecticut, to Marty and Kerry Hainsey. He learned how to skate at the Bolton Ice Palace.[2]

Playing career

Early career

As a youth, Hainsey played in the 1995 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Springfield, Massachusetts.[3]

Hainsey was drafted in the first round, 13th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (1999-2001) of the Hockey East NCAA conference. He began his professional career with Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates, the Quebec Citadelles[4] and Hamilton Bulldogs,[5] and played in the Calder Cup finals against the Houston Aeros, which the Bulldogs lost.[6] He made his NHL debut for the Canadiens on October 11, 2002, versus the New York Rangers in New York.[7]

Columbus Blue Jackets

After spending three seasons with the Canadiens organization, Hainsey was claimed off waivers on November 29, 2005, by the Columbus Blue Jackets,[5] where he established himself as a solid two-way defenseman.[4]

Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg Jets

On July 2, 2008, as a free agent, Hainsey signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Atlanta Thrashers.[8] He recorded 6 goals and 33 assists in his first season in Atlanta. He would go on to record 45 points in the next two seasons with the Thrashers.[9] After their relocation to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to become the Winnipeg Jets to start the 2011–12 season,[10] Hainsey recorded 10 assists in 56 games.[9]

Hainsey also played a role in the negotiations of the 2012–13 NHL lockout. After a day of marathon bargaining sessions on December 5, 2012, Hainsey emerged to tell the media that both sides planned to meet again the next day.[11] He was a key part of the negotiating team for the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) in the lockout.[4][12] On January 6, 2013, an agreement was reached to end the lockout.[13] He finished the 2012–13 season with no goals and 13 points in 47 games with the Jets.[14]

Hainsey with the Hurricanes in 2014.

Carolina Hurricanes

On September 12, 2013, Hainsey signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes after the team announced that a defenseman Joni Pitkänen would miss the season due to injury.[14] On June 24, 2014, Hainsey signed a new three-year, $8.5 million contract with the Hurricanes.[15] Hainsey was named an alternate captain of the Hurricanes during the 2015–16 season. He marked his 200th NHL assist against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 20, 2017.[16]

Hainsey with the Penguins in 2017, where he made his playoff debut and won the Stanley Cup.

Pittsburgh Penguins

On February 23, 2017, Hainsey, in the final year of his contract, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and Danny Kristo.[16] It was the first time that he had been traded in his career.[17] It was with the Penguins that on April 12, 2017, after 907 career NHL games and surpassing Olli Jokinen's previous playoff games drought "record", Hainsey made his Stanley Cup playoff debut, doing so against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[1] Hainsey and the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup over the Nashville Predators in the Finals. He was the first player captain Sidney Crosby handed the trophy to, following the victory.[18]

Toronto Maple Leafs

An unrestricted free agent following the season, Hainsey signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, 2017.[19] He was signed to replace the departing Matt Hunwick, who coincidentally signed with the Penguins that same day.[19] Hainsey was often played alongside Morgan Rielly on the Leafs top defence pairing.[7][20] On November 1, 2018, Hainsey played in his 1,000 career NHL game.[21]

Ottawa Senators

On July 1, 2019, Hainsey signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Ottawa Senators.[22] For the 2019–20 season, Hainsey was named an alternate captain for the Senators.[23] On December 10, 2019, Hainsey played in his 1,100th game, playing against the team which drafted him, the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal.[24] On December 19, 2019, it was announced that Hainsey suffered a knee injury in the 5–4 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators. He missed seven games before returning to the ice on January 9, 2020.[25] On April 1, 2021, Hainsey announced his retirement from the NHL.[26]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1996–97 New England Jr. Whalers EJHL
1997–98 US NTDP U17 USDP 18 2 7 9 28 — — — — —
1997–98 US NTDP Juniors USHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1997–98 US NTDP U18 NAHL 40 4 7 11 16 5 0 1 1 0
1998–99 US NTDP Juniors USHL 48 5 12 17 45 — — — — —
1999–2000 University of Massachusetts Lowell HE 30 3 8 11 20 — — — — —
2000–01 University of Massachusetts Lowell HE 33 10 26 36 51 — — — — —
2000–01 Quebec Citadelles AHL 4 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Quebec Citadelles AHL 63 7 24 31 26 3 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Montreal Canadiens NHL 21 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2002–03 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 33 2 11 13 26 23 1 10 11 20
2003–04 Montreal Canadiens NHL 11 1 1 2 4 — — — — —
2003–04 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 54 7 24 31 35 10 0 5 5 6
2004–05 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 68 9 14 23 45 4 1 1 2 0
2005–06 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 22 3 14 17 19 — — — — —
2005–06 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 55 2 15 17 43 — — — — —
2006–07 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 80 9 25 34 69 — — — — —
2007–08 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 78 8 24 32 25 — — — — —
2008–09 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 81 6 33 39 32 — — — — —
2009–10 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 80 5 21 26 39 — — — — —
2010–11 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 82 3 16 19 24 — — — — —
2011–12 Winnipeg Jets NHL 56 0 10 10 23 — — — — —
2012–13 Winnipeg Jets NHL 47 0 13 13 10 — — — — —
2013–14 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 82 4 11 15 45 — — — — —
2014–15 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 81 2 8 10 16 — — — — —
2015–16 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 81 5 14 19 37 — — — — –
2016–17 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 56 4 10 14 17 — — — — —
2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 16 0 3 3 4 25 2 6 8 6
2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 80 4 19 23 20 7 0 1 1 4
2018–19 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 81 5 18 23 21 7 0 1 1 2
2019–20 Ottawa Senators NHL 64 1 11 12 12 — — — — —
NHL totals 1,132 59 252 311 443 39 2 8 10 12

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1999 United States WJC18 7th 6 2 1 3 8
2000 United States WJC 4th 7 1 1 2 4
2001 United States WJC 5th 7 0 5 5 2
2009 United States WC 4th 9 2 4 6 2
Junior totals 20 3 7 10 14
Senior totals 9 2 4 6 2

Awards and honors
Hainsey with the Stanley Cup, after winning the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Award Year
College
All-Hockey East Rookie Team 2000
All-Hockey East First Team 2001
AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2001
AHL
All-Star Game 2002 [27]
All-Rookie Team 2002
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2017 [18]

Personal life

Hainsey and his wife Hayley have three children. Hainsey met his wife in Hamilton, Ontario, when he was playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs.[28] Following his retirement from the NHL, Hainsey became an executive in the NHLPA.[29]

References
  1. "Veteran Ron Hainsey is about to (finally) make his playoff debut". Sportsnet. April 11, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  2. "Ron Hainsey Stats and News". NHL.com. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  3. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  4. Friedman, Elliotte (December 8, 2012). "Ron Hainsey: The NHLPA's 'bad cop?'". CBC Sports. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  5. "Blue Jackets grab Hainsey from Habs". CBC Sports. November 29, 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  6. Pinchevsky, Tal (May 30, 2017). "After waiting 14 years, Penguins defenseman Ron Hainsey grateful for first shot at Stanley Cup". ESPN. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  7. Johnston, Chris (October 31, 2018). "Maple Leafs' Ron Hainsey reluctant to embrace celebrated milestone". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  8. "Thrashers sign UFA defenseman Ron Hainsey". Atlanta Thrashers. July 2, 2008. Archived from the original on August 19, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  9. "Ron Hainsey". NHL.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  10. "Winnipeg cheers return of NHL". CBC Sports. May 31, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  11. LeBrun, Pierre [@PierreVLeBrun] (December 5, 2012). "Ron Hainsey meeting media now" (Tweet). Retrieved December 5, 2012 – via Twitter.
  12. Yerdon, Joe (December 8, 2012). "Is the lockout going to get Ron Hainsey blacklisted by the owners?". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  13. Perry, Rod (January 6, 2013). "NHL, players' union reach tentative deal to end lockout". CBC News. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  14. Polzer, Tim (September 12, 2013). "Hurricanes sign Ron Hainsey to one-year, $2 million deal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  15. "Canes sign Ron Hainsey to three-year deal". Canes Country. June 24, 2014.
  16. "Penguins Acquire Defenseman Ron Hainsey". Pittsburgh Penguins. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017 – via NHL.com.
  17. "10 Under-the-Radar Trade Targets for 2017 Deadline". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  18. "Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 11, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  19. "Leafs add Ron Hainsey, Dom Moore to roster". Toronto Sun. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  20. Zwolinski, Mark (March 24, 2019). "The value of Leafs defenceman Ron Hainsey isn't always found in the numbers". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  21. Davidson, Neil (November 2, 2018). "Leafs defenceman Ron Hainsey joins select group, marks his 1,000th NHL game". CTV News. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  22. "Senators sign Ron Hainsey to one-year contract". Ottawa Senators. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  23. "Mark Borowiecki, Ron Hainsey, Jean-Gabriel Pageau named alternate captains for Senators". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. September 12, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  24. Garrioch, Bruce (December 10, 2019). "Garrioch: Ron Hainsey plays milestone game in Montreal, where his career started". Windsor Star. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  25. Garrioch, Bruce (January 9, 2020). "Snapshots: Looks like Ron Hainsey is ready to return to the Ottawa blueline". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  26. "Ron Hainsey: Retires from hockey". CBS Sports. April 1, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  27. "Canadian All-Stars 13, Planet USA All-Stars 11". American Hockey League. February 14, 2002. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  28. Jacobs, Jeff (August 22, 2017). "Jeff Jacobs: After Long Road From Bolton To Stanley Cup, Hainsey Brings It Home". Hartford Courant. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  29. "Ron Hainsey and Sean Bergenheim New Additions to NHLPA" (Press release). National Hockey League Players' Association. April 1, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
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