Michael Shanahan was a professional ice hockey player who played as a left winger. He was born on January 22, 1969, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Shanahan began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the London Knights in 1985. He played for the Knights for three seasons, from 1985 to 1988, and was a key player in the team's success during that time.
In 1987, Shanahan was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round, second overall, in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Devils in the 1987-88 season and played for them for two seasons. In 1989, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues, where he played for four seasons. During his time with the Blues, Shanahan established himself as a top scorer and was named to the NHL All-Star team twice.
In 1995, Shanahan was traded to the Hartford Whalers, where he played for one season before being traded again to the Detroit Red Wings. It was with the Red Wings that Shanahan had the most success in his career. He played for the team for nine seasons, from 1996 to 2006, and was a key player in the team's three Stanley Cup championships in 1997, 1998, and 2002. Shanahan was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals, and he was named to the NHL All-Star team eight times during his career.
After leaving the Red Wings in 2006, Shanahan played for the New York Rangers for two seasons before retiring from professional hockey in 2009. In total, he played in 1,524 NHL games and scored 656 goals and 698 assists for a total of 1,354 points. He also played in 184 playoff games and scored 60 goals and 68 assists for a total of 128 points.
In addition to his playing career, Shanahan has also been involved in the management side of hockey. In 2011, he was named the NHL's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development, and in 2014, he became the NHL's Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations. In this role, Shanahan is responsible for overseeing player safety and discipline in the NHL.
Overall, Michael Shanahan had a successful career as a professional hockey player, and his contributions to the sport have continued in his post-playing career. He is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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