Keith Yandle

Keith Yandle
Yandle with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2013
Born	(1986-09-09) September 9, 1986 (age 35) Milton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Philadelphia Flyers Arizona Coyotes New York Rangers Florida Panthers
National team	United States
NHL Draft	105th overall, 2005 Phoenix Coyotes
Playing career	2006–present

Keith Michael Yandle (born September 9, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers and Florida Panthers. Yandle was drafted by the Coyotes in the fourth round, 105th overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Nicknamed "Sonk", Yandle quickly established himself as a premier offensive defenseman, leading the Coyotes in points in both the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons.^[1] He is currently the NHL ironman with the most consecutive games, becoming the third player ever to record 900 consecutive games played during the 2020–21 season. 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.^[2]

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 was not able to gain admission,^[3] 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).^{[citation needed]}

Yandle at Coyotes practice in 2010

Professional[]

Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (2006–2015)[]

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.^[4] In the 2007–08 season, he participated in the American Hockey League All-Star Game as a member of the PlanetUSA team.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[5] Yandle was named to the 2011 NHL All-Star Game as a replacement for the Atlanta Thrashers' Tobias Enström.^[6]

Shortly after free agency began on July 1, 2011, Yandle signed a five-year contract extension with the Coyotes worth $26.25 million.^[7] 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.^[8] 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).^[9]

New York Rangers (2015–2016)[]

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).^[10]

Florida Panthers (2016–2021)[]

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.^[11] Three days later, on June 23, he signed a seven-year, $44 million contract with Florida.^[12]

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.^[13]

On March 7, 2021, Yandle played in his 1,000th NHL game in a 4–2 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes.^[14]

Following the 2020–21 season, having played in his fifth season with the Panthers, Yandle was bought out from the remaining two years of his contract on July 15, 2021.^[15]

Philadelphia Flyers (2021–)[]

On July 27, the eve of the opening of free agency, Yandle agreed to terms on a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.^[16]

Career statistics[]

Regular season and playoffs[]

International[]

Awards and honors[]

References[]

External links[]

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database, or TSN.ca