While making his way up the ranks as an offensive defenseman, Klein evolved into a shot-blocking, shutdown style player.
The native of Kitchener, Ontario, was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the second round (No. 37) of the 2003 NHL Draft. During his draft year with Toronto of the Ontario Hockey League, Klein had 11 goals and 44 points in 67 games and added one goal and 10 points in 17 playoff games. In 2003-04 he scored six goals and 29 points in 46 games, then had 10 goals and 21 points in 22 playoff games as Guelph won the OHL championship.
While making his way up the ranks as an offensive defenseman, Klein evolved into a shot-blocking, shutdown style player.
The native of Kitchener, Ontario, was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the second round (No. 37) of the 2003 NHL Draft. During his draft year with Toronto of the Ontario Hockey League, Klein had 11 goals and 44 points in 67 games and added one goal and 10 points in 17 playoff games. In 2003-04 he scored six goals and 29 points in 46 games, then had 10 goals and 21 points in 22 playoff games as Guelph won the OHL championship.
Klein made his NHL debut with the Predators on Dec. 3, 2005, against the Philadelphia Flyers, but played only five NHL games from 2005-07. During that period he scored 15 goals and 63 points in 146 games for Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.
Klein, who scored his first NHL goal on Jan. 26, 2007 against the Chicago Blackhawks, scored three goals and 10 points in 21 postseason games as Milwaukee advanced to the 2006 Calder Cup Finals, where it lost to Hershey in six games.
Klein became a regular in the Nashville lineup in 2008-09, appearing in 63 games and finishing with four goals and 12 points. His game began to evolve. In 2009-10, he played in 81 games and led the team with 147 blocked shots. The next season, he again led Nashville, and was ninth in the NHL, with 173 blocked shots, and was one of 10 defensemen with at least 150 blocked shots and 125 hits.
Klein led the Predators in blocked shots for the third consecutive season in 2011-12 with 151.
Klein was traded to the New York Rangers on Jan. 22, 2014, and made his debut the next day against the St. Louis Blues. He also played in all 25 postseason games as New York advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
With the Rangers, Klein regained some of his offensive game, scoring nine goals and 26 points in 2014-15 and becoming the third Rangers defenseman with two overtime goals during the regular season since the five-minute overtime period was implemented in 1983-84, joining Brian Leetch (2001-02) and Tom Poti (2003-04).
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Signed as a free agent by Herlev (Denmark), November 14, 2012.
- Traded to NY Rangers by Nashville for Michael Del Zotto, January 22, 2014.
