Meet Ron Hainsey
The Thrashers' First 2008 Free Agent Acquisition
By Carl Danbury (Posted July 3, 2008)
It might seem a little daunting to ascend in the ranks of NHL defensemen so quickly. But, for Ron Hainsey, 245 games of NHL experience paid off in spades, or diamonds and rubies very quickly this week.
Hainsey, who earned less than $1 million in his third NHL season for the Columbus Blue Jackets last year, will earn $4.5 million this year for the Atlanta Thrashers, who signed the unrestricted free agent defenseman July 2 to a five-year contract estimated at a total of $22.5 million. In the span of a few days, Hainsey went from an underpaid, improving blueliner to the Thrashers second-highest-paid player, second only to Ilya Kovalchuk.
As his agent, Matt Keator told me recently, the economics of the NHL’s free agent market was demand heavy and supply poor. That is particularly the case for defenseman, especially those who are offensively adept, which Hainsey undoubtedly is.
Hainsey, 27, said he plans to prove his value to his teammates, coaches and Thrashers fans. “It’s a responsibility, and one that I don’t take lightly,” he said.
Hainsey grew up a Whalers’ fan in Bolton, Conn., which is about 15 minutes east of Hartford. At the age of 16, he left Connecticut for USA Hockey’s National Team Developmental Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he played with Islanders’ goalie Rick DiPietro and defenseman Freddy Meyer, the Lightning’s Adam Hall and Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles for two years.
From there, he enrolled at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, where he was an All-Hockey East selection and second team All-American. He was selected in the first round (13th overall) by Montreal in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and played a few games for the Quebec Citadelles in the AHL in 2001. He had a solid year for Quebec during the 2001-02 season and then moved with the Habs’ farm team to Hamilton for the 2002-03 season. He was called up for 21 games by the Canadiens that season but didn’t get much ice time. In 2003-04, he split time between the AHL and NHL again, but scored his first NHL goal against Ottawa’s Patrick Lalime Oct. 9.
During the lockout, he again played for Hamilton, and then was sent back to the AHL team the following year. Unable to crack the Habs’ lineup, Hainsey was claimed by the Blue Jackets off waivers from Montreal on Nov. 29, 2005. Montreal had young defensemen like Trevor Daley, Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin in the system and Hainsey couldn’t get enough ice time.
“I wasn’t able to earn enough minutes when I was in Montreal, but if worked out well because I had a great opportunity in Columbus and played for two great coaches (Gerard Gallant and Ken Hitchcock),” Hainsey said.
Hainsey got the ice time he needed in Columbus and gained confidence in even-strength and power-play situations. Last season, Hainsey played more than 22 minutes per game and was first among regulars in power-play minutes. He also tallied eight times on the power play and added 24 assists. Hainsey expects to earn playing time in all situations in Atlanta.
“Ice time is an earned commodity. You have to earn the trust of your coaches and your teammates, prove yourself on the ice and then you are rewarded. I am going down there to work my butt off and earn my ice time,” Hainsey stated.
Hainsey played against teams coached by new Thrashers' head coach John Anderson in the AHL, and likes the style of play Anderson utilizes.
“There were a lot of reasons why I chose Atlanta. First of all they have a new coach in John Anderson who is coming off a Calder Cup championship and has a legacy of winning. I think his style of play suits me well and I really look forward to playing with guys like (Ilya) Kovalchuk, (Tobias) Enstrom and (Slava) Kozlov,” Hainsey said.
“I did a lot of research, read comments from Anderson and others about the organization and liked what I read,” he said.
Hainsey and Keator weighed multiple offers before choosing Atlanta.
"I had 15 teams call me," Keator offered. "Seven teams offered. In the end, this was the best fit for him. He's excited about Anderson's style of play. It's up tempo and allows guys to be creative and make plays."
In researching Hainsey for this feature, one comment I read said that Hainsey doesn’t play as big as his 6-3, 210 frame. The defenseman was nonplussed about the statement.
“It depends on what that statement means. I have only gotten into five or six fights in my NHL career, but when it comes to sticking up for teammates I have no problem doing that,” Hainsey related. “My defensive style is more positional. I don’t run around the ice looking for hits and take myself out of position. I am more of a positional defenseman but I will finish my checks.”
For a team that allowed the most goals against in the NHL last season, a defenseman that can finish on both ends of the ice will be welcomed with open arms.