Ron Hainsey

Ronald Martin Hainsey (born March 24, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played seventeen years in the National Hockey League (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.

Hainsey played in the NHL for nearly 16 years (907 games) before a late season trade to the 2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins saw him play 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 won that season's 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. His non-playoffs record was 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.

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.

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 and Hamilton Bulldogs, and played in the Calder Cup finals against the Houston Aeros, which the Bulldogs lost. Hainsey made his NHL debut for the Canadiens on October 11, 2002, versus the New York Rangers in New York.

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, 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. After their relocation to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to become the Winnipeg Jets to start the 2011–12 season, Hainsey recorded 10 assists in 56 games. He was a key part of the negotiating team for the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) in the lockout. On January 6, 2013, an agreement was reached to end the lockout. He finished the 2012–13 season with no goals and 13 points in 47 games with the Jets.

Carolina Hurricanes On September 12, 2013, Hainsey signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes after the team announced that defenseman Joni Pitkänen would miss the season due to injury. 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.

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. 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.

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. He was signed to replace the departing Matt Hunwick, who coincidentally signed with the Penguins that same day. On November 1, 2018, Hainsey played in his 1,000 career NHL game.

Ottawa Senators On July 1, 2019, Hainsey signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Ottawa Senators. For the 2019–20 season, Hainsey was named an alternate captain for the Senators. On December 10, 2019, Hainsey played in his 1,100th game, playing against the team which drafted him, the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal. 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. On April 1, 2021, Hainsey announced his retirement from the NHL.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors Hainsey with the Stanley Cup, after winning the 2017 Stanley Cup Final with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Award Year

All-Hockey East Rookie Team 2000 All-Hockey East First Team 2001 AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2001

All-Star Game 2002 All-Rookie Team 2002

Stanley Cup champion 2017 Following his retirement from the NHL, Hainsey became an executive in the NHLPA.