Ron Hainsey


Ronald Martin Hainsey is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. He has previously played in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs, playing over 1,000 career NHL games.
Hainsey played professional hockey for nearly 16 years before playing on a team that made the playoffs, longer than any other player in league history. He then won the 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.

Early life

Hainsey was born on March 24, 1981 in Bolton, Connecticut and learned how to skate at the Bolton Ice Palace.

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 of the Hockey East NCAA conference. He began his professional career with Montreal's American Hockey League affiliates, the Quebec Citadelles and Hamilton Bulldogs, and played in the Calder Cup finals against the Houston Aeros.

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 leading 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. 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.
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.

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.

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. 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.

Toronto Maple Leafs

On July 1, 2017, Hainsey signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was signed to replace the departing Matt Hunwick, who coincidentally signed with the Penguins that same day. Hainsey made his season debut playing alongside Morgan Rielly.
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. He chose to wear number 81.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

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.