Luke Schenn

Luke Schenn (born November 2, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Schenn played junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

In his final WHL season, Schenn was named to the League's Second All-Star Team.

In 2004–05, Schenn played AAA midget hockey for the Saskatoon Contacts, who won the Telus Cup as Canada's national midget hockey champions.

While playing with the Contacts, Schenn was selected in the first round, 20th overall, of the 2004 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft by the Kelowna Rockets.

The Kelowna Rockets arranged for Schenn to join the team during their Memorial Cup run at the end of the 2004–05 season.

He roomed with defenceman Shea Weber as the team wanted him to learn about his future role.

Schenn debuted with the Rockets during the 2005–06 season, and was named the team's Rookie of the Year.

He served as an alternate captain for the team during the 2007–08 season.

Later in that same season, Schenn was named to the WHL's roster for the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge and participated in the annual Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game, where he served as a team captain and scored a goal.

While playing in Kelowna, he was often paired with current Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers, former winner of the NHL's Calder Memorial Trophy.

Schenn was named to the WHL's Second All-Star Team after the 2007–08 season.

He was a highly touted prospect heading into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, where he was selected in the first round, fifth overall, by the Maple Leafs.

Schenn began his professional career in the NHL during the 2008–09 season and played with the Maple Leafs until being traded to Philadelphia following the 2011–12 season.

After his rookie season, Schenn's play was recognized when he was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team.

He has represented Canada internationally, winning a gold medal at the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and a silver medal at the 2009 World Ice Hockey Championships.

Schenn is a stay-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 in hits and is the NHL's all-time record holder for most hits by a defenceman.

When he played in Toronto his charity "Luke's Troops" helped military families attend Maple Leafs home games.

His younger brother Brayden was also drafted fifth overall in his own draft year, and currently serves as the captain of the St. Louis Blues.

Schenn's first minor hockey team was the Saskatoon Red Wings, where he was coached by his father, Jeff.

Leading up to the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Schenn was a highly regarded prospect, ranked fifth among draft-eligible North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.

Some scouts saw him as a mix between Calder Trophy and Norris Trophy nominee Dion Phaneuf and two-time Stanley Cup champion Adam Foote.

E. J. McGuire, then-director of the Central Scouting Bureau, compared him to former first overall selection Ed Jovanovski.

At the Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded with the New York Islanders for a higher draft pick, which they ultimately used to select Schenn.

Early reports from the Maple Leafs training camp in September 2008 indicated Schenn was likely to be returned to his junior club for the 2008–09 season.

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.

After training camp, Schenn was chosen for the team roster at the start of the 2008–09 season, making his NHL debut on October 9 against the Detroit Red Wings.

On October 29, Schenn recorded an assist for his first career NHL point against the New Jersey Devils.

Later in the season, he scored his first goal against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.

Schenn played for the Rookie YoungStars team in the 2008–09 NHL YoungStars Game.

In January 2009, Schenn missed 12 games with a lower-body injury, the only games he missed during his rookie season.

On March 14, 2009, he recorded his first multi-point (two assists) game in an 8–6 win against the Calgary Flames.

The NHL named Schenn to the 2008–09 All-Rookie Team on June 18, 2009, along with fellow 2008 draftee Drew 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.

Schenn finished his first season in the NHL with two goals and 12 assists in 70 games played.

Expectations for Schenn were high heading into the 2009–10 season.

During training camp, Toronto Head Coach Ron Wilson named him as one of the team's top four defencemen.

However, as the season progressed, Schenn's play was disappointing, and Wilson kept him out of the line-up for a game in October and again for a three-game stretch in December.

Schenn won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.