Kevin Connauton

Kevin Connauton (born February 23, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Kevin Connauton
Connauton with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014
Born (1990-02-23) February 23, 1990
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Columbus Blue Jackets
Arizona Coyotes
NHL Draft 83rd overall, 2009
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2010–present

Connauton played Junior A with the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) before joining the Western Michigan Broncos of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in 2008–09. After his NHL draft, he joined the major junior ranks with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2009–10. He set franchise records for most goals and points by a defenceman, while being named a WHL West First Team All-Star.

Playing career

Junior

Connauton began his junior career in the AJHL with the Spruce Grove Saints in 2007–08. He recorded 13 goals and 45 points over 56 games – first among rookie defencemen and third among defencemen overall – to earn a rookie of the year nomination and a unanimous selection to the AJHL North All-Rookie Team.[1] He garnered interest from the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, who put him on their protected list in October 2008,[2] but opted to play college hockey instead in the NCAA.[3] He signed with the Western Michigan Broncos of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in April 2008 and initially intended to join them for the 2009–10 season, due to an already full defensive corps.[4] However, after Jesse Perrin departed for the Central Hockey League (CHL) in August 2008, Connauton was invited to join the Broncos for the 2008–09 season.[1][4] He went on to record a 7-goal, 18-point campaign as a freshman to earn an honourable mention to the CCHA All-Rookie Team.

Going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Connauton was ranked 202nd among North American draft-eligible prospects.[5] He was subsequently selected in the third round, 83rd overall, by the Vancouver Canucks. He was one of three CCHA players taken in the draft and the highest overall.[6] He was originally eligible for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, but was not chosen.[7] Canucks director of collegiate scouting Stan Smyl highlighted Connauton's break-out pass as one of his strengths,[3] while associate head scout Thomas Gradin noted his skating abilities.[8]

Following his NHL draft, Canucks management encouraged Connauton to join the major junior ranks in hopes of bettering his progress.[9] He accordingly signed with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL on July 29, 2009.[9] Prior to joining the Giants, he attended his first NHL training camp with the Canucks, but was an early cut, being assigned to junior on September 16, 2009.[10] Connauton established himself as a high-scoring defenceman in the WHL. He broke Jonathon Blum's record for goals by a Giants defenceman on January 3, 2010, with his 19th goal of the season.[2] He was later named WHL Player of the Week with a four-goal, 10-point effort in five games from December 27, 2009, to January 3, 2010.[11] In the last month of the regular season, he then broke Brent Regner's mark for most points by a Giants defenceman of 67, set the previous season, with two points against the Kelowna Rockets on March 11.[12] Connauton finished his first WHL season atop the league's scoring list among defencemen (he finished with five more goals than Tyson Barrie, who tied him in point-scoring) and rookies with 72 points in 69 games.[13][14] He was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team, along with Giants teammate Craig Cunningham.[15] In the playoffs, the Giants advanced to the semifinals, but were eliminated in six games by the Tri-City Americans. Connauton recorded three goals and 13 points over 16 post-season games.

Cannauton at the AHL All-Star Classic 2012

Professional

On April 28, 2010, Connauton signed three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks.[16] He was assigned to the Canucks' minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL), out of training camp in September. During his AHL debut on October 8, he scored his first goal, a game-winner against goaltender Ben Bishop in a 4–3 win over the Peoria Rivermen.[17] Connauton finished the season with 23 points (11 goals and 12 assists) over 73 games. He added one assist in six playoff games, as the Moose were eliminated by the Lake Erie Monsters in the first round. The following season, Connauton was assigned to a new AHL team, the Chicago Wolves, who had become the Canucks' new minor league affiliate. At mid-season, he was selected to participate in the 2012 AHL All-Star Game. He was one of two Wolves representatives, joining forward Darren Haydar.[18] During the All-Star skills competition, he won the hardest shot competition, recording a slapshot at 99.4 miles per hour.

On April 2, 2013, the Canucks traded Connauton and a second round selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft to the Dallas Stars for Derek Roy. At the time of the trade Connauton was leading the Wolves in goals by a defenceman, 7, and was second for points by a defenceman, with 25.[19]

Connauton started the 2013–14 season with the Dallas Stars, and made his NHL debut October 24, 2013, against the Calgary Flames.[20]

On November 18, 2014, Connauton was picked up off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets.[21] On January 13, 2016, Connauton was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Coyotes.[22]

On June 27, 2018, Connauton signed a two-year contract with the Coyotes.[23] In the 2018-19 season, Connauton appeared in 50 games with the Coyotes, contributing with 1 goal and 8 points in a bottom six role from the blueline.

On June 25, 2019, Connauton was traded by the Coyotes, along with a third-round 2020 draft pick, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Carl Söderberg.[24]

Personal life

Connauton was born on February 23, 1990, in Edmonton, Alberta, to William Connauton and Glenna Demco.[25] His father is a lawyer. His wife is named Brooke.

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 Spruce Grove Saints AJHL 5613324559 —————
2008–09 Western Michigan Broncos CCHA 407111844 —————
2009–10 Vancouver Giants WHL 69244872107 163101321
2010–11 Manitoba Moose AHL 7311122351 61010
2011–12 Chicago Wolves AHL 7313203358 50118
2012–13 Chicago Wolves AHL 607182567 —————
2012–13 Texas Stars AHL 92466 92356
2013–14 Dallas Stars NHL 3617816 400016
2013–14 Texas Stars AHL 601123 —————
2014–15 Dallas Stars NHL 80226 —————
2014–15 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 549101929 —————
2015–16 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 2717821 —————
2015–16 Arizona Coyotes NHL 3845939 —————
2016–17 Arizona Coyotes NHL 2401124 —————
2016–17 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 21232 —————
2017–18 Arizona Coyotes NHL 7311102120 —————
2018–19 Arizona Coyotes NHL 5017822 —————
2019–20 Colorado Eagles AHL 385222736 —————
2019–20 Colorado Avalanche NHL 40000
NHL totals 314 27 49 76 177 4 0 0 0 16

Awards and honours
Award Year
AJHL
North All-Rookie Team 2008 [25]
College
CCHA All-Rookie Team honourable mention 2009 [25]
WHL
West First All-Star Team 2010 [15]
CHL All-Rookie Team 2010
AHL
All-Star Game 2012

Records
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gollark: Just stop considering orbital death rays a problem.Anyway, apparently the "federal reserve" is likely to increase interest rates some amount next year. Someone elsewhere said that that would probably be bad for the stock market. Is that accurate?
gollark: Yes, people are weird and want it for social status/scarcity/whatever rather than because it actually looks nice "inherently".
gollark: (also, I'm pretty sure IPFS doesn't guarantee that your file exists forever at no cost, someone has to be pinning it or viewing it)
gollark: It's probably irrelevant though, as I doubt *that* many people actually care about having the arbitrary ownership token™ in the first place and have the technical knowledge to check in much detail whether you actually do have it.

References
  1. Bodnar, Adam (April 18, 2008). "Hockey Signs Four During Spring Signing Period". Western Michigan University. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  2. "Connauton fires bullets for Giants". Edmonton Journal. January 8, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  3. Mahiben, Dhiren (September 7, 2009). "Kevin Connauton becoming a Vancouver Giant". Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  4. Mills, Tammy (October 23, 2008). "Early arrival Connauton making impact for Broncos hockey team". MLive.com. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  5. Jim Connelly (June 27, 2009). "Day 2 Turnaround: College Hockey Fares Well on Saturday at NHL Draft". USCHO News. Archived from the original on August 4, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  6. "NHL draft 2009: Collegians, recruits light up the board". ESPN. June 29, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  7. Pap, Elliott (November 16, 2009). "Q&A with Canucks prospect Kevin Connauton". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  8. MacIntyre, Iain (June 29, 2009). "Pair of picks from later rounds has Gillis & Company excited". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  9. "Defenceman Kevin Connauton joins Vancouver Giants from NCAA's Western Mighigan". Western Hockey League. July 29, 2009. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  10. "Vancouver Canucks reduce pre-season roster". Vancouver Canucks. September 16, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  11. "Giants' Connauton Named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week". Western Hockey League. January 4, 2010. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  12. Lyndon Little (March 12, 2010). "Rockets burn Giants early but need a late blast to win". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  13. "Top Scorers - 2009-10 Regular Season - Defencemen". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on March 11, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  14. "Top Scorers - 2009-10 Regular Season - Rookies". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on March 10, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  15. "WHL Announces 2009-10 Conference All-Star Teams and Award Finalists". Western Hockey League. March 18, 2010. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  16. Vancouver Canucks (April 28, 2010). "Canucks sign defenceman Kevin Connauton". Canucks.com. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  17. "Game Summary". Manitoba Moose. October 8, 2010. Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  18. "2012 All-Star rosters unveiled". American Hockey League. January 4, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  19. Dallas Stars Staff (April 2, 2013). "Dallas Stars Acquire Kevin Connauton and second-round pick in 2013 From Vancouver in Exchange for Derek Roy". DallasStars.com. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  20. The Canadian Press (October 25, 2013). "Chiasson, Benn each score 2 goals to carry Stars to 5-1 victory over Flames". NHL.com. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  21. Mike Halford (November 18, 2014). "With blueline ailing, Columbus claims Connauton off waivers". NBC Sports ProHockeyTalk. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  22. "Coyotes Add Depth to Blue Line by Claiming Connauton". coyotes.nhl.com. January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  23. "Coyotes sign Connauton to two-year contract". Arizona Coyotes. June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  24. "Avalanche acquire Connauton, Third-Round pick from Arizona". Colorado Avalanche. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  25. "Kevin Connauton". Western Michigan University. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
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