SUNRISE, Fla. — This is not the way Kevin Shattenkirk envisioned his first season with the Rangers.
The 29-year-old defenseman left money on the table this summer to sign a four-year, $26.6 million deal with the team he rooted for while growing up in New Rochelle. The Rangers had made the playoffs for seven straights years and were attempting to retool their roster on the fly without totally giving up the thought of contending.
But in training camp, Shattenkirk hurt his left knee. He played through it, not wanting to disappoint the organization and the fans, who heaped so much hope on the back of his No.