Ron Hainsey

Ronald Martin Hainsey (born March 24, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played seventeen years with the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, playing over 1,000 career NHL games.
Hainsey played in the NHL for nearly 16 years (907 games) before playing on a team that made the playoffs, longer than any other player in league history. He then won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in his debut playoff appearance, finishing second in ice time for the playoffs in place of the injured Kris Letang.
Early life.
Hainsey was born on March 24, 1981 in Bolton, Connecticut to Marty and Kerry Hainsey. He learned how to skate at the Bolton Ice Palace.
Playing career.
Early career.
As a youth, Hainsey played in the 1995 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Springfield, Massachusetts.
Hainsey was drafted in the first round, 13th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (1999-2001) of the Hockey East NCAA conference. He began his professional career with Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates, the Quebec Citadelles and Hamilton Bulldogs, and played in the Calder Cup finals against the Houston Aeros.
Columbus Blue Jackets.
After spending three seasons with the Canadiens organization, Hainsey was claimed off waivers on November 29, 2005, by the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he established himself as a leading two-way defenseman.
Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg Jets.
On July 2, 2008, as a free agent, Hainsey signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Atlanta Thrashers. He recorded 6 goals and 33 assists in his first season in Atlanta. He would go on to record 45 points in the next two seasons with the Thrashers. After their relocation to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to become the Winnipeg Jets to start the 2011–12 season, Hainsey recorded 10 assists in 56 games.
Hainsey also played a role in the negotiations of the 2012–13 NHL lockout. After a day of marathon bargaining sessions on December 5, 2012, Hainsey emerged to tell the media that both sides planned to meet again the next day.
Carolina Hurricanes.
On September 12, 2013, Hainsey signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes after the team announced that a defenseman Joni Pitkänen would miss the season due to injury. On June 24, 2014, Hainsey signed a new three-year, $8.5 million contract with the Hurricanes.
Pittsburgh Penguins.
On February 23, 2017, Hainsey, in the final year of his contract, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and Danny Kristo. It was the first time that he had been traded in his career. It was with the Penguins that on April 12, 2017, after 907 career NHL games and surpassing Olli Jokinen's previous playoff games drought "record", Hainsey made his Stanley Cup playoff debut, doing so against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hainsey and the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup over the Nashville Predators in the Finals.
Toronto Maple Leafs.
On July 1, 2017, Hainsey signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was signed to replace the departing Matt Hunwick, who coincidentally signed with the Penguins that same day. Hainsey made his season debut playing alongside Morgan Rielly.
On November 1, 2018, Hainsey played in his 1,000 career NHL game.
Ottawa Senators.
On July 1, 2019, Hainsey signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Ottawa Senators. He chose to wear number 81.
Personal life.
Hainsey and his wife Hayley have three children. Hainsey met his wife in Hamilton, Ontario, when he was playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs.