Keith Yandle

Keith Michael Yandle (born September 9, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the New York Rangers and Arizona Coyotes, the organization he was drafted by in the fourth round, 105th overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Yandle quickly established himself as a premier offensive defenseman, leading the Coyotes in points in both the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons. He is currently the NHL ironman with the most consecutive games played, as of the end of 2018–19, he stands 4th all time with 852 consecutive games played. His streak is the longest ever by an NHL defenseman.

Playing career

Amateur
As a youth, Yandle played in the 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from South Shore.

Yandle attended Milton High School and Cushing Academy, where he was close friends with Chris Bourque, and was slated to attend the University of New Hampshire, where Yandle's brother Brian played from 2002 to 2006. However, Yandle decided to forgo his college eligibility and instead decided to play for the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Playing in 66 games in 2005–06, he recorded 25 goals and 59 assists for 84 points. The Wildcats won the QMJHL championship and Yandle won the QMJHL's Emile Bouchard Trophy (best defenseman) and Telus Trophy (defensive player of the year).

Professional
Drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the fourth round, 105th overall, in 2005, Yandle made his NHL debut on October 11, 2006, against the Detroit Red Wings, logging 20 minutes of ice time in the game. In the 2007–08 season, he participated in the American Hockey League All-Star Game as a member of the PlanetUSA team.

In his first Stanley Cup playoff game, on April 14, 2010, Yandle scored the first goal for Phoenix against Detroit to tie the game at 1–1. He would later add an assist and be named one of the game's three stars. Yandle was named to the 2011 NHL All-Star Game as a replacement for the Atlanta Thrashers' Tobias Enström.

Shortly after free agency began on July 1, 2011, Yandle signed a five-year contract extension with the Coyotes worth $26.25 million. He played an integral role in the Coyotes' push in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs that saw them face the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final, contributing nine points during their run. On November 12, 2014, he played his 400th consecutive game with the team. He ranks second all-time on the franchise's longest consecutive games played list, behind only Dale Hawerchuk (475).

On March 1, 2015, Yandle was traded to the New York Rangers (along with defenseman Chris Summers and a 2015 fourth-round pick) in exchange for defenseman John Moore, forward Anthony Duclair, a 2016 first-round pick and a 2015 second-round (Oliver Kylington), the second-round pick was then dealt to the Calgary Flames for a pair of third-round picks (Adin Hill, Jens Lööke).

On June 20, 2016, as an impending free agent, Yandle's rights were traded by the Rangers to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional 2017 fourth-round draft pick and a 2016 sixth-round draft pick. Three days later, on June 23, he signed a seven-year, $44 million contract with Florida.

On January 14, 2018, Anaheim Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano was suspended after playing 830 consecutive games, effectively making Yandle the leader in the iron man race for most consecutive games played with 676 games played at the time.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

External links

Category:1986 births
Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen
Category:Arizona Coyotes draft picks
Category:Arizona Coyotes players
Category:Sportspeople from Boston
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:Ice hockey people from Massachusetts
Category:Living people
Category:Moncton Wildcats players
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:People from Milton, Massachusetts
Category:Phoenix Coyotes players
Category:San Antonio Rampage players