Ron Hainsey

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Ron Hainsey

| image = Ron Hainsey 2017-12-09.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Hainsey with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|3|24}}

| birth_place = Bolton, Connecticut, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 210

| position = Defense

| shoots = Left

| league = NHL

| played_for = Montreal Canadiens
Columbus Blue Jackets
Atlanta Thrashers
Winnipeg Jets
Carolina Hurricanes
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators

| ntl_team = USA

| draft = 13th overall

| draft_year = 2000

| draft_team = Montreal Canadiens

| career_start = 2001

| career_end = 2020

}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/veteran-ron-hainsey-finally-make-playoff-debut/ |title=Veteran Ron Hainsey is about to (finally) make his playoff debut |publisher =Sportsnet |date = April 11, 2017 |access-date=July 5, 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/player/ron-hainsey-8468493|title=Ron Hainsey Stats and News|website=NHL.com|language=en-us|access-date=February 27, 2017}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=February 10, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}

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{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2012/12/ron-hainsey-the-nhlpas-bad-cop.html |title=Ron Hainsey: The NHLPA's 'bad cop?' |work=CBC Sports |last=Friedman |first=Elliotte |author-link=Elliotte Friedman |date=December 8, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} and Hamilton Bulldogs,{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/blue-jackets-grab-hainsey-from-habs-1.522166 |title=Blue Jackets grab Hainsey from Habs |work=CBC Sports |date=November 29, 2005 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} and played in the Calder Cup finals against the Houston Aeros, which the Bulldogs lost.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nhl/story/_/id/19496066/2017-stanley-cup-finals-penguins-ron-hainsey-grateful-first-shot-stanley-cup |title=After waiting 14 years, Penguins defenseman Ron Hainsey grateful for first shot at Stanley Cup |work=ESPN |first=Tal |last=Pinchevsky |date=May 30, 2017 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} Hainsey made his NHL debut for the Canadiens on October 11, 2002, versus the New York Rangers in New York.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-ron-hainsey-reluctant-embrace-celebrated-milestone/ |title=Maple Leafs' Ron Hainsey reluctant to embrace celebrated milestone |work=Sportsnet |last=Johnston |first=Chris |date=October 31, 2018 |access-date=March 21, 2023}}

= 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, where he established himself as a solid two-way defenseman.

= 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.{{cite web |url=http://thrashers.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=367659&page=NewsPage&service=page |title=Thrashers sign UFA defenseman Ron Hainsey |publisher=Atlanta Thrashers |date=July 2, 2008 |access-date=November 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819225931/http://thrashers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=367659 |archive-date=August 19, 2008}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/ron-hainsey-8468493 |title=Ron Hainsey |publisher=NHL.com |access-date=March 21, 2023}} After their relocation to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to become the Winnipeg Jets to start the 2011–12 season,{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-cheers-return-of-nhl-1.1062589 |title=Winnipeg cheers return of NHL |work=CBC Sports |date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} Hainsey recorded 10 assists in 56 games.

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.{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/276564666371690497 |title=Ron Hainsey meeting media now. |last=LeBrun |first=Pierre |author-link=Pierre LeBrun |user=PierreVLeBrun |number=276564666371690497 |date=December 5, 2012 |access-date=December 5, 2012}} He was a key part of the negotiating team for the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) in the lockout.{{cite web |url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2012/12/08/is-the-lockout-going-to-get-ron-hainsey-blacklisted-by-the-owners/ |title=Is the lockout going to get Ron Hainsey blacklisted by the owners? |last=Yerdon |first=Joe |work=NBC Sports |date=December 8, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} On January 6, 2013, an agreement was reached to end the lockout.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-players-union-reach-tentative-deal-to-end-lockout-1.1318856 |title=NHL, players' union reach tentative deal to end lockout |work=CBC News |last=Perry |first=Rod |date=January 6, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} He finished the 2012–13 season with no goals and 13 points in 47 games with the Jets.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/si-wire/2013/09/12/ron-hainsey-hurricanes-deal |title=Hurricanes sign Ron Hainsey to one-year, $2 million deal |last=Polzer |first=Tim |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 12, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2023}}

File:Ron Hainsey Hurricanes 2014 (cropped).jpg

= 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. On June 24, 2014, Hainsey signed a new three-year, $8.5 million contract with the Hurricanes.{{cite web |url=http://www.canescountry.com/2014/6/24/5839314/carolina-hurricanes-ron-hainsey-three-year-contract-nhl |title=Canes sign Ron Hainsey to three-year deal |date=June 24, 2014 |website=Canes Country}} 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.{{cite web |title=Penguins Acquire Defenseman Ron Hainsey |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-acquire-hainsey/c-287049852 |publisher=Pittsburgh Penguins |via=NHL.com |date=February 23, 2017 |access-date=February 23, 2017}}

File:Ron Hainsey 2017-05-25.jpg

= 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 the first time that he had been traded in his career.{{cite web |title=10 Under-the-Radar Trade Targets for 2017 Deadline |url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/10-under-the-radar-trade-targets-for-the-2017-deadline |website=The Hockey News |date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2017}} 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. 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/penguins-repeat-stanley-cup-champions-1.4156028 | title = Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date = June 11, 2017 |access-date = June 11, 2017}}

= 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.{{cite news| url = http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/01/mcelhinney-to-stay-with-leafs | title = Leafs add Ron Hainsey, Dom Moore to roster | newspaper = Toronto Sun | date = July 1, 2017 | access-date = July 1, 2017}} He was signed to replace the departing Matt Hunwick, who coincidentally signed with the Penguins that same day. Hainsey was often played alongside Morgan Rielly on the Leafs top defence pairing.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2019/03/24/the-value-of-leafs-defenceman-ron-hainsey-isnt-always-found-in-the-numbers.html |title=The value of Leafs defenceman Ron Hainsey isn't always found in the numbers |last=Zwolinski |first=Mark |work=Toronto Star |date=March 24, 2019 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} On November 1, 2018, Hainsey played in his 1,000 career NHL game.{{cite web |last1=Davidson |first1=Neil |title=Leafs defenceman Ron Hainsey joins select group, marks his 1,000th NHL game |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/leafs-defenceman-ron-hainsey-joins-select-group-marks-his-1-000th-nhl-game-1.4160226 |website=CTV News |date=November 2, 2018 |access-date=November 2, 2018}}

= Ottawa Senators =

On July 1, 2019, Hainsey signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Ottawa Senators.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-sign-defenceman-ron-hainsey-to-a-one-year-contract/c-308141638 | title = Senators sign Ron Hainsey to one-year contract |publisher = Ottawa Senators | date = July 1, 2019 | access-date = July 1, 2019}} For the 2019–20 season, Hainsey was named an alternate captain for the Senators.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2019/09/12/mark-borowiecki-ron-hainsey-jean-gabriel-pageau-named-alternate-captains-for-senators.html |title=Mark Borowiecki, Ron Hainsey, Jean-Gabriel Pageau named alternate captains for Senators |work=Toronto Star |agency=The Canadian Press |date=September 12, 2019 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} On December 10, 2019, Hainsey played in his 1,100th game, playing against the team which drafted him, the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal.{{cite web |url=https://windsorstar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/garrioch-ron-hainsey-plays-a-milestone-game-in-the-place-where-his-career-started/wcm/57ce19ba-9b04-459f-8c32-646950cc01ca |title=Garrioch: Ron Hainsey plays milestone game in Montreal, where his career started |work=Windsor Star |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |date=December 10, 2019 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/snapshots-looks-like-ron-hainsey-is-ready-to-return-to-the-ottawa-blueline |title=Snapshots: Looks like Ron Hainsey is ready to return to the Ottawa blueline |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |work=Ottawa Sun |date=January 9, 2020 |access-date=March 21, 2023}} On April 1, 2021, Hainsey announced his retirement from the NHL.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/ron-hainsey-retires-from-hockey/ |title=Ron Hainsey: Retires from hockey |work=CBS Sports |date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=March 21, 2023}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;"

style="background:#e0e0e0;"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

style="background:#e0e0e0;"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

1996–97

|New England Jr. Whalers

|EJHL

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|1997–98

|US NTDP U17

|USDP

| 18

| 2

| 7

| 9

| 28

| —

1997–98

|US NTDP Juniors

|USHL

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|1997–98

|US NTDP U18

|NAHL

|40

|11

|16

1998–99

|US NTDP Juniors

|USHL

|48

|12

|17

|45

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|1999–2000

|University of Massachusetts Lowell

|HE

|30

|11

|20

| —

2000–01

|University of Massachusetts Lowell

|HE

|33

|10

|26

|36

|51

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2000–01

|Quebec Citadelles

|AHL

2001–02

|Quebec Citadelles

|AHL

|63

|24

|31

|26

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2002–03

|Montreal Canadiens

|NHL

|21

| —

2002–03

|Hamilton Bulldogs

|AHL

|33

|11

|13

|26

|23

|10

|11

|20

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2003–04

|Montreal Canadiens

|NHL

|11

| —

2003–04

|Hamilton Bulldogs

|AHL

|54

|24

|31

|35

|10

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2004–05

|Hamilton Bulldogs

|AHL

|68

|14

|23

|45

2005–06

|Hamilton Bulldogs

|AHL

|22

|14

|17

|19

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2005–06

|Columbus Blue Jackets

|NHL

|55

|15

|17

|43

| —

2006–07

|Columbus Blue Jackets

|NHL

|80

|25

|34

|69

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2007–08

|Columbus Blue Jackets

|NHL

|78

|24

|32

|25

| —

2008–09

|Atlanta Thrashers

|NHL

|81

|33

|39

|32

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2009–10

|Atlanta Thrashers

|NHL

|80

|21

|26

|39

| —

2010–11

|Atlanta Thrashers

|NHL

|82

|16

|19

|24

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2011–12

|Winnipeg Jets

|NHL

|56

|10

|23

| —

2012–13

| Winnipeg Jets

| NHL

| 47

| 0

| 13

| 10

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2013–14

|Carolina Hurricanes

| NHL

| 82

| 4

| 11

| 15

| 45

| —

2014–15

| Carolina Hurricanes

| NHL

| 81

| 2

| 8

| 10

| 16

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2015–16

| Carolina Hurricanes

| NHL

| 81

| 5

| 14

| 19

| 37

| —

| –

2016–17

| Carolina Hurricanes

| NHL

| 56

| 4

| 10

| 14

| 17

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2016–17

|Pittsburgh Penguins

|NHL

|16

|25

2017–18

|Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 80

| 4

| 19

| 23

| 20

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2018–19

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 81

| 5

| 18

| 23

| 21

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 2

2019–20

|Ottawa Senators

| NHL

| 64

| 1

| 11

| 12

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 1,132

! 59

! 252

! 311

! 443

! 39

! 2

! 8

! 10

! 12

=International=

id="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" border="0"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0" align="center"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

1999

|United States

|WJC18

| 7th

| 6

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 8

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2000

|United States

|WJC

| 4th

| 7

| 1

| 2

| 4

2001

| United States

| WJC

| 5th

| 7

| 0

| 5

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2009

|United States

|WC

| 4th

| 9

| 2

| 4

| 6

| 2

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 20

! 3

! 7

! 10

! 14

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Senior totals

! 9

! 2

! 4

! 6

! 2

Awards and honors

File:Ron Hainsey with Stanley Cup 2017-06-11.jpg, after winning the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals with the Pittsburgh Penguins.]]

class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year !
colspan="3" \|College
All-Hockey East Rookie Team \| 2000 \|
All-Hockey East First Team \| 2001 \|
AHCA East Second-Team All-American \| 2001 \|
colspan="3" \|AHL
All-Star Game \| 2002 \| {{cite web\| url = https://theahl.com/stats/game-summary/1005939 \| title = Canadian All-Stars 13, Planet USA All-Stars 11 \| website = American Hockey League \| date = February 14, 2002 \| access-date = February 1, 2019}}
All-Rookie Team \| 2002 \|
colspan="3" \|NHL
Stanley Cup champion \| 2017 \|

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

colspan="3" |College

All-Hockey East Rookie Team

| 2000

All-Hockey East First Team

| 2001

AHCA East Second-Team All-American

| 2001

colspan="3" |AHL

All-Star Game

| 2002

| {{cite web| url = https://theahl.com/stats/game-summary/1005939 | title = Canadian All-Stars 13, Planet USA All-Stars 11 | website = American Hockey League | date = February 14, 2002 | access-date = February 1, 2019}}

All-Rookie Team

| 2002

colspan="3" |NHL

Stanley Cup champion

| 2017

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-jacobs-column-hainsey-cup-822-20170821-column.html|title=Jeff Jacobs: After Long Road From Bolton To Stanley Cup, Hainsey Brings It Home |last=Jacobs |first=Jeff |work=Hartford Courant |date=August 22, 2017 |access-date=November 8, 2017}} Following his retirement from the NHL, Hainsey became an executive in the NHLPA.{{cite press release |url=https://www.nhlpa.com/news/1-22058/ron-hainsey-and-sean-bergenheim-new-additions-to-nhlpa |title=Ron Hainsey and Sean Bergenheim New Additions to NHLPA |publisher=National Hockey League Players' Association |date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=March 21, 2023}}