| Luke Schenn | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Schenn with theLos Angeles Kings in 2016 | |||
| Born | (1989-11-02)November 2, 1989 (age 35) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 229 lb (104 kg; 16 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Winnipeg Jets Toronto Maple Leafs Philadelphia Flyers Los Angeles Kings Arizona Coyotes Anaheim Ducks Vancouver Canucks Tampa Bay Lightning Nashville Predators | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 5th overall,2008 Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Playing career | 2008–present | ||
Luke Schenn (born November 2, 1989) is a Canadian professionalice hockeydefenceman for theWinnipeg Jets of theNational Hockey League (NHL). Schenn played junior hockey with theKelowna Rockets of theWestern Hockey League (WHL). In his final WHL season, Schenn was named to the League's Second All-Star Team. He was a highly touted prospect heading into the2008 NHL entry draft, where he was selected in the first round, fifth overall, by theToronto Maple Leafs.
Schenn began his professional career in the NHL during the2008–09 season and played with the Maple Leafs until being traded to Philadelphia following the2011–12 season. After his rookie season, Schenn's play was recognized when he was named to theNHL's All-Rookie Team. Schenn won back-to-backStanley Cups with theTampa Bay Lightning in2020 and2021. He has representedCanada internationally, winning a gold medal at the2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and a silver medal at the2009 World Ice Hockey Championships.
Schenn is astay-at-home defenceman whose main focus is preventing goals rather than scoring. With a physical style of play and legendary "old man strength", he is usually among NHL leaders inhits and is the NHL's all-time record holder for most hits by a defenceman.[1] When he played in Toronto his charity "Luke's Troops" helped military families attend Maple Leafs home games. His younger brotherBrayden was also drafted fifth overall in2009, and currently serves as the captain of theSt. Louis Blues.
Schenn's firstminor hockey team was the Saskatoon Red Wings, where he was coached by his father, Jeff.[2] In 2004–05, Schenn playedAAA midget hockey for the Saskatoon Contacts, who won theTelus Cup as Canada's nationalmidget hockey champions.[3] While playing with the Contacts, Schenn was selected in the first round, 20th overall, of the 2004Western Hockey League (WHL) bantam draft by theKelowna Rockets.[4]
The Kelowna Rockets arranged for Schenn to join the team during theirMemorial Cup run at the end of the2004–05 season. He roomed with defencemanShea Weber as the team wanted him to learn about his future role.[5] Schenn debuted with the Rockets during the2005–06 season, and was named the team's Rookie of the Year.[6] He served as analternate captain for the team during the2007–08 season.[3] Later in that same season, Schenn was named to the WHL's roster for theADT Canada-Russia Challenge[3][6] and participated in the annualCanadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game, where he served as a team captain and scored a goal.[7] While playing in Kelowna, he was often paired with currentVancouver Canucks defencemanTyler Myers, former winner of the NHL'sCalder Memorial Trophy.[5] Schenn was named to the WHL's Second All-Star Team after the 2007–08 season.[8]
Leading up to the2008 NHL entry draft, Schenn was a highly regarded prospect,[5] ranked fifth amongdraft-eligible North American skaters by theNHL Central Scouting Bureau.[8] Some scouts saw him as a mix between Calder Trophy andNorris Trophy nomineeDion Phaneuf and two-timeStanley Cup championAdam Foote.[5]E. J. McGuire, then-director of the Central Scouting Bureau, compared him to former first overall selectionEd Jovanovski.[8] At the draft, theToronto Maple Leafs traded with theNew York Islanders for a higher draft pick, which they ultimately used to select Schenn.[9]
Early reports from the Maple Leafs training camp in September 2008 indicated Schenn was likely to be returned to his junior club for the2008–09 season.[2] On October 7, 2008, he signed a contract with the Maple Leafs with a base salary of $850,000 per season and performance bonuses that could raise the value as high as $1.25 million per season.[7][10] After training camp, Schenn was chosen for the team roster at the start of the2008–09 season,[11] making his NHL debut on October 9 against theDetroit Red Wings.[12] On October 29, Schenn recorded an assist for his first career NHL point against theNew Jersey Devils. Later in the season, he scored his first goal againstMontreal Canadiens goaltenderCarey Price.[12] In January 2009, Schenn missed 12 games with a lower-body injury, the only games he missed during his rookie season.[13] Schenn played for the Rookie YoungStars team in the2008–09 NHL YoungStars Game.[14] On March 14, 2009, he recorded his first multi-point (two assists) game in an 8–6 win against theCalgary Flames.[12] The NHL named Schenn to the 2008–09All-Rookie Team on June 18, 2009, along with fellow 2008 drafteeDrew Doughty. The award acknowledged Schenn's defensive prowess and physical play, as he led all NHL rookies in blocked shots and all rookie defencemen in hits.[15] Schenn finished his first season in the NHL with two goals and 12 assists in 70 games played.[13]
Expectations for Schenn were high heading into the2009–10 season. During training camp, Toronto Head CoachRon Wilson named him as one of the team's top four defencemen.[16] However, as the season progressed, Schenn's play was disappointing, and Wilson kept him out of the line-up for a game in October[17] and again for a three-game stretch in December.[16] Towards the end of the season, Schenn and some of his younger teammates improved their play.[18][19] In a game against theOttawa Senators, Schenn posted his first career two-goal game, helping him finish the season with new career-highs in goals (5) and points (17) in 79 games played.[12]
Schenn had a strong start to the2010–11 season, playing with veteranTomáš Kaberle. Prior to a game against thePhiladelphia Flyers, Wilson described Schenn's play as "great".[20] When Kaberle was traded to theBoston Bruins in February 2011, Schenn was briefly named analternate captain in his place,[21] untilColby Armstrong returned to the line-up after an injury.[22] Wilson felt that Schenn had made significant strides in his third NHL season: "He's learned a lot...He's not on the ice for as many goals against any more."[23] At the end of the season, Schenn had tied his career-high for goals with five and set new personal records for assists (17) and total points (22) while playing in all 82 games for the Maple Leafs.[12]
On June 23, 2012, Schenn was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange forJames van Riemsdyk.[24] With the Flyers, Schenn was given the opportunity to play alongside his younger brotherBrayden, saying, "It's going to be exciting to play with my brother, that's for sure. I can't describe how cool this is."[25] On June 28, 2012, it was announced that Schenn was going to wear number 22 for the Flyers, as his usual number 2 was retired from the team in honour of defencemanMark Howe.[26]
During the2015–16 season, Schenn appeared in 29 games for 5 points before he was traded (alongsideVincent Lecavalier) to theLos Angeles Kings in exchange for a third-round pick in2016 and prospectJordan Weal on January 6, 2016.[27] On July 23, 2016, Schenn signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal with theArizona Coyotes.[28] On July 1, 2018, following the conclusion of his contract with the Coyotes, Schenn left the club as a free agent and agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract with theAnaheim Ducks.[29]
On November 17, 2018, Schenn was placed on waivers by the Ducks after playing in eight games during the2018–19 season but recording no points.[30] Assigned toAmerican Hockey League (AHL) for the first time in his career, Schenn joined the Ducks' affiliate, theSan Diego Gulls, and contributed with 10 points in 22 games before he was traded (along with a seventh-round pick in2020) to theVancouver Canucks in exchange forMichael Del Zotto on January 16, 2019.[31] He was immediately assigned to continue in the AHL, joining the Canucks' affiliate, theUtica Comets.
On July 1, 2019, Schenn agreed as a free agent to a one-year, $700,000 contract with theTampa Bay Lightning, where he has been a healthy scratch, including being placed on waivers, and being reassigned to Tampa's AHL affiliate, theSyracuse Crunch.[32] He was a member of the 2019-2020 team who won theStanley Cup. Following their Stanley Cup win, Schenn signed a one-year contract to remain with the Lightning on October 29, 2020.[33]
Following a second successiveStanley Cup with the Lightning in the2020–21 season, Schenn left Tampa Bay as a free agent and was signed to a two-year, $1.7 million contract to return to previous club, the Vancouver Canucks on July 28, 2021.[34]
During the2022–23 season, Schenn surpassedBrooks Orpik to become the all-time leader in hits by an NHL defenceman after executing six against theArizona Coyotes on December 3, 2022.[1] Providing a steady defensive influence to the Canucks blueline, Schenn also contributed to provide offense at the highest points-per-game of his career. With the Canucks well out of playoff contention and in his final season under contract, Schenn was traded on February 28, 2023 before the NHL trade deadline to his original club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in exchange for a third-round pick in2023.[35]
As a free agent from the Maple Leafs in the off-season, Schenn was signed to a three-year, $8.25 million contract with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2023.[36] On October 17, 2024, early in the2024–25 season, Schenn played his1,000th NHL game; this was later commemorated by the Predators in a pregame ceremony on October 19.[37] Several months later, on March 5, 2025, Schenn was traded to thePittsburgh Penguins, alongsideTommy Novak, in exchange forMichael Bunting and a fourth-round draft pick.[38] Schenn was then traded to theWinnipeg Jets in exchange for a second-round pick in the2026 NHL entry draft and a fourth-round pick in the2027 NHL entry draft two days later, on March 7, 2025.[39]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| RepresentingCanada | ||
| Men'sice hockey | ||
| IIHF World Championship | ||
 | 2009 Switzerland | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
 | 2008 Czech Republic | |
| Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament | ||
| 2006Czech Republic | |
Schenn's first experience withHockey Canada was as a member of Team West at the 2006World Under-17 Hockey Challenge inRegina, Saskatchewan, where his team finished seventh.[3] He played forCanada twice at the under-18 level: the2006 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where his team won gold, and the2007 IIHF World U18 Championships, where Canada finished fourth.[3] Schenn scored three goals during this tournament.[6]
In 2007, Hockey Canada assembled a junior team to represent Canada in an eight-game series (the2007 Super Series) against a Russian junior team to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the1972 Summit Series. Canada went undefeated in the eight games, with seven wins and one tie, while Schenn recorded 24 penalty minutes and no points.[3][6]
During the 2007–08 season, Schenn was named toCanada's selection camp roster for the2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[40] The final roster was named December 13, 2007, and Schenn was selected for the team, being paired withThomas Hickey as the top defensive tandem.[41] Canada won the gold medal and Schenn finished the tournament with aplus-minus rating of +5 to lead the team.[3] Hockey analystPierre McGuire dubbed him "the human eraser" for his play internationally.[42]
After his rookie season in the NHL, Schenn was named to thesenior Canadian roster for the2009 IIHF World Championship.[3] He played all nine games for Canada, but did not significant ice time, averaging just under seven minutes per game. In the tournament he recorded just one assist.[43] Canada took home the silver medal after a 2–1 loss toRussia in the gold medal game.[44] Schenn, along with then-Toronto teammates Dion Phaneuf andJames Reimer, played for Canada at the2011 IIHF World Championship.[45] Canada placed fifth in the tournament, with their only loss coming in the quarter-finals against Russia.[46] In seven games, Schenn recorded a single assist.[47]
After the2012–13 season, Schenn was again selected by Hockey Canada to participate in the2013 IIHF World Championship alongside Flyers teammatesMatt Read,Wayne Simmonds and Flyers captainClaude Giroux. Canada was eliminated bySweden in the quarter-finals, leaving them without a medal for the second-straight year.[48]
Schenn is adefensive defenceman who plays a physical game while attempting to prevent opponents from scoring. Since his rookie season, he has been among the NHL leaders inhits.[49] He believes he is at his best when he is playing a tough game, while staying responsible: "You just want to be physical and play with a bit of an edge, but you don't want to put your team downshort-handed."[23] Growing up, Schenn patterned his play after fellow defencemenChris Pronger andRob Blake.[2]
Schenn was born on November 2, 1989, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His parents are Jeff and Rita Schenn.[6] His younger brotherBrayden was picked fifth overall in the2009 NHL entry draft by the Los Angeles Kings,[50] and was later traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. Schenn also has two younger sisters, Madison and Macy.[6] Schenn graduated fromSt. Joseph High School in Saskatoon. His brother Brayden, along with fellow NHLersColby Armstrong,Riley Armstrong andJarret Stoll, also attended St. Joseph when they lived in Saskatoon.[2]
Schenn was a key contributor to the Maple Leafs' efforts to honour Canada's military. During his rookie season, he donated $10,000[51] to start Luke's Troops, a charity which allows Canadian servicemen and women to attend the team's home games as Schenn's guest.[52][53] Fans at the games often recognized the soldiers with applause. "They have served overseas so it's good that the fans show their appreciation," Schenn said.[51] In February 2011, Schenn's contributions to the military were acknowledged when he was recognized during the team's annual Armed Forces night.[52]
In 2023, Schenn was announced as a brand ambassador for Can-i Wellness oral spray supplements.[54]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005–06 | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | 60 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 86 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | ||
| 2006–07 | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | 72 | 2 | 27 | 29 | 139 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | 57 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 100 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 2008–09 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 70 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 79 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 82 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 79 | 2 | 20 | 22 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 47 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 79 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 58 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 58 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 29 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 43 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 52 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2016–17 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 78 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 64 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 22 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Utica Comets | AHL | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 18 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 25 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 2020–21 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 38 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 51 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | ||
| 2021–22 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 66 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 55 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | ||
| 2023–24 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 63 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 43 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 61 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,057 | 44 | 159 | 203 | 848 | 47 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 33 | ||||
Statistics source[12]
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Canada Western | U17 | 7th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | |
| 2006 | Canada | IH18 |  | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| 2007 | Canada | SS | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
| 2007 | Canada | WJC18 | 4th | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2008 | Canada | WJC | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2009 | Canada | WC |  | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2011 | Canada | WC | 5th | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | Canada | WC | 5th | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | |
| 2013 | Canada | WC | 5th | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 27 | |
| Junior totals | 28 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 48 | ||||
| Senior totals | 31 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 52 | ||||
Statistics source[3]
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| WHL | ||
| Kelowna Rockets Rookie of the Year | 2006 | [6] |
| West Second Team All-Star | 2008 | [8] |
| NHL | ||
| All-Rookie Team | 2009 | [15] |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2020,2021 | [55][56] |
| Vancouver Canucks | ||
| Fred J. Hume Award | 2022 | |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick 2008 | Succeeded by |