Kevin Klein

39-Year-Old DefensemanD
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Kevin Klein in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year contract with ZSC Lions (NAL) in July of 2017.
Announces retirement
DFree Agent
April 16, 2019
Klein will hang up his skates after playing in Switzerland the past two season.
ANALYSIS
Klein briefly retired in July of 2017, but was lured back onto the ice by ZSC Lions. The blueliner played in 627 NHL over 12 years with the Predators and Rangers and racked up 38 goals, 116 assists and 10 game-winning goals. The 34-year-old -- who was drafted by Nashville with the 37th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft -- added another 19 points in 73 playoffs contests, as well.
Read More News
NHL Stats
Loading Skater Stats...
2016
2016 NHL Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
FantasyDraft
Head2Head
Loading Skater Game Log...
2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kevin Klein See More
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Postseason Preview
April 10, 2017
Jan Levine previews the Stanley Cup playoffs, picking each round, as Alex Ovechkin looks to put the Capitals on his back en route to a title.
Friday Daily Puck: Clearing the Final Hertl
March 31, 2017
Sasha Yodashkin previews a seven-game Friday slate brimming with possibilities, and explains why Tomas Hertl's value could extend beyond this one night.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
After posting a never-before-seen (at least from him) 26 points in 2014-15, Klein seemed destined to take a step back. Instead, he produced a nearly identical campaign last year, notching nine goals (four of them game-winners) and 17 assists – all dead ringers for his stats from the prior season. Klein’s become much more aggressive in the offensive zone, but he’s done so without sacrificing his commitment on the defensive side – in fact, he raised his block total from 115 to 155 last year. Once an afterthought, Klein has established himself as the Rangers’ second-most-valuable defenseman behind Ryan McDonagh, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see his minutes rise again this year. That could mean a new career mark in points for the 31-year-old blueliner.
Klein shocked the hockey world with an offensive breakout in 2014-15, setting career highs with nine goals (more than he'd scored in any other two seasons of his career combined) and 26 points to go with a sparkling plus-24 rating, making him a fantasy darling off the waiver wire. He was a darling to Rangers fans, too, as four of those goals proved to be game-winners, and if not for the broken arm he suffered down the stretch, Klein would almost certainly have cleared double-digit goals and 30-plus points. That said, the 30-year-old blueliner isn't a great bet to keep finding twine in the new campaign -- last year's 11.8 shooting percentage was more than double his career average, and he's still stuck on the Rangers' third defensive pairing with no expectation of power-play minutes. However, he did show both a much-improved shot and the willingness to use it, and by the end of last season, the coaching staff started letting Klein pinch deep into the offensive zone fairly often. Don't draft him with the expectation of last season's goal-scoring, but Klein should be a serviceable back-end defenseman, particularly in leagues that count hits and blocks.
Of the organization's acquisitions last season, the 29-year-old Kitchener native will probably remain the most overlooked. Received in a trade for the slumping Michael Del Zotto, the right-handed Klein quietly filled a void and solidified head coach Alain Vigneault's third defensive pairing. Although his exit from Nashville certainly helped clean up his minus-11 rating through 47 games, he's never going to be accused of pitching in offensively and will spend most of the fantasy season in the free agent pool. Should an injury to one or more of the team's right-handed defenseman occur, Klein could certainly see his fantasy status change, but it's not very likely.
Klein is a workhorse blueliner who eats a lot of minutes (third on the Preds in time-on-ice last year with 20:25 per game), but is more of a stay-at-home type whose specialties are killing penalties and blocking shots. That said, he can still contribute a little on the score sheet (53 points over the past three season), so he could be worth a look in deeper formats in the later rounds of your fantasy drafts.
Despite posting a career-high 21 points in 66 games last season, Klein was often overlooked as an important part of the Predators defense – not surprising when you play alongside the likes of Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. However, Klein led the team with 151 blocked shots last season and was also strong in the playoffs with four points in 10 games – more than Weber and the same number as Suter. Klein also plays on Nashville’s top penalty killing unit and he stays out of the box, as evidenced by his four penalty minutes last season. With Suter now plying his trade in Minnesota, Klein may see an opportunity for an even bigger role this season.
Klein had a career year last season with two goals and 16 helpers, averaging over 20 minutes per night for the Preds. However, he is regarded as more of a stay-at-home defenseman rather than a scorer. His value lies in his ability to kill penalties and block shots, two stat categories that are not rewarded in the majority of fantasy leagues.
The good news is, Klein averaged 19:55 in ice time last season, an increase of more than seven minutes per game over last year's average (12:39). Unfortunately, Klein's offensive totals (1G, 10A) didn't see the same kind of jump, which isn't surprising considering he is more of a stay-at-home type of defenseman who is counted on more for keeping the puck out of his own net, rather than putting it in the other team's. He also had a team-worst minus-15 rating last year, which doesn't add to his fantasy attractiveness. Unless you're in a specialty league that awards for blocked shots (he led the team with 147 last season), Klein is a guy you want to stay away from.
Klein saw his first significant action in the NHL last season, playing 63 games and scoring 12 points. He's only 24, so there is still room for improvement for Klein. However, with the defensive talent that Nashville has, getting power play time is pretty unlikely and he probably won't be able to make significant contributions this season.
Klein was the odd-man-out in Nashville's defense corps last season. He appeared in only 13 games. Hopefully, that will change in 2008-09. Klein should have no problem nailing down a roster spot this season and playing his first full season with the Predators. His minor league resume suggests that a 25 to 30-point campaign is entirely possible.
Klein has been trying to secure a full-time roster spot with the Predators for the last couple seasons. He has managed to play a handful of games only in a relief role. Klein is a solid defenseman with decent offensive skills but the crowded blue line in Nashville will likely relegate him to another season of play at Milwaukee of the AHL.
Klein played in one NHL game last season during some injury relief for the Predators. We expect Klein to spend the full 2006-07 season at AHL affiliate Milwaukee and to only be possibly called upon for injury relief duty for the Predators this season.
Second-round choice in 2003 is still learning the pro game, but has shown flashes of his talent in the past -- including a tremendous 10 goal, 21 point effort for Guelph in the OHL playoffs the year he was drafted. He's probably a few seasons away from the NHL, however.
More Fantasy News
Not done yet
DFree Agent
July 14, 2017
Klein -- who retired from the NHL on July 7 -- signed with Swiss club ZSC Lions on Friday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Officially calls it a career
DFree Agent
July 7, 2017
Klein, a defenseman who last played for the Rangers, announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May retire from NHL, head overseas
DNew York Rangers  Free Agent
June 14, 2017
Klein is considering retiring from the NHL and continuing his career in Europe, the New York Post reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Returns to lineup Friday
DNew York Rangers  Free Agent
March 31, 2017
Klein (back) is slated to return to the lineup Friday against the Penguins after missing Tuesday's game against the Sharks, the Rangers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Will sit Tuesday
DNew York Rangers  Free Agent
Back
March 28, 2017
Klein will not suit up for Tuesday night's game in San Jose after feeling some tightness in his back following Sunday's contest in Anaheim.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.