Keith Yandle Biography

Keith Michael Yandle (born September 9, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the New York Rangers and Arizona Coyotes, the organization he was drafted by in the fourth round, 105th overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Yandle quickly established himself as a premier offensive defenseman, leading the Phoenix Coyotes in points in both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

Playing career

Amateur

Yandle attended Milton High School and Cushing Academy, where he was close friends with the New York Rangers' Chris Bourque, and was slated to attend the University of New Hampshire, where Yandle's brother Brian played from 2002 to 2006. However, Yandle decided to forgo his college eligibility 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 tallied 25 goals and 59 assists for 84 points. The Wildcats won the QMJHL championship and Yandle took home the League's Emile Bouchard Trophy (best defenseman) and Telus Trophy (defensive player of the year).

Professional

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. In the 2007-08 season, he participated in the American Hockey League All-Star Game as a member of the PlanetUSA team.

In his first Stanley Cup playoff game, on April 14, 2010, Yandle scored the first goal for the Phoenix Coyotes against the Red Wings to tie the game at 1-1. He would later add an assist and be named one of the game's three stars. Yandle was named to the 2011 NHL All-Star Game as a replacement for the Atlanta Thrashers' Tobias Enstrm.

Shortly after free agency began on July 1, 2011, Yandle signed a five-year contract extension with the Coyotes worth $26.25 million. Yandle 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. On November 12, 2014, Yandle 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).

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 Lke).

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 4th round draft pick and a 2016 6th round draft pick. Three days later on June 23, he agreed to forgo free agency to sign a 7-year, $44 million contract with the Florida Panthers.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005-06	Moncton Wildcats	QMJHL		66	25	59	84	109		21	6	14	20	36
2006-07	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		69	6	27	33	97		"?	"?	"?	"?	"?
2006-07	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		7	0	2	2	8		"?	"?	"?	"?	"?
2007-08	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		30	1	14	15	80		5	0	0	0	8
2007-08	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		43	5	7	12	14		"?	"?	"?	"?	"?
2008-09	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		69	4	26	30	37		"?	"?	"?	"?	"?
2009-10	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		82	12	29	41	45		7	2	3	5	4
2010-11	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		82	11	48	59	68		4	0	5	5	0
2011-12	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		82	11	32	43	51		16	1	8	9	10
2012-13	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		48	10	20	30	54		"?	"?	"?	"?	"?
2013-14	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		82	8	45	53	63		"?	"?	"?	"?	"?
2014-15	Arizona Coyotes	NHL		63	4	37	41	32		"?	"?	"?	"?	"?
2014-15	New York Rangers	NHL		21	2	9	11	8		19	2	9	11	10
2015-16	New York Rangers	NHL		82	5	42	47	40		5	1	0	1	2
NHL totals				661	72	297	369	420		51	6	25	31	26

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010	United States	WC	13th		6	1	3	4	0
Senior totals					6	1	3	4	0

Awards and honors

Awards	Year
QMJHL
First All-Star Team	2006
Defensive Player of the Year	2006
Emile Bouchard Trophy	2006
CHL First All-Star Team	2006
CHL Defenseman of the Year	2006
AHL
All-Star Game	2008
NHL
All-Star Game	2011, 2012