Luke Schenn played his thousandth game in the NHL, a feat that is impressive to accomplish.
His path hasn’t been easy, despite starting as the fifth overall draft pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 34-year-old was drafted in 2008 and has now played 17 seasons in the NHL. He didn’t live up to the fifth overall pick, but he’s built a great career for himself.
Schenn is in his second season with the Nashville Predators, but the journeyman has played for eight different organizations, including two stints with the Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks.
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It wasn’t always easy for the hard-nosed defensive back either. He played ten straight years in the NHL before having to work his way back from earning waivers and AHL stints with three different teams. Upon his return, Schenn won two Stanley Cups.
Frank Seravalli noted that Schenn’s hiring of Adam Oates as a private coach was the turning point that put Schenn back on track to becoming an NHLer again.
Schenn hasn’t played in the AHL since 2019-20 and even earned a nice contract with the Predators as a veteran winner.
Brayden Schenn, Luke’s brother, was drafted a year later, also fifth overall, but to the Los Angeles Kings. He currently has 945 games and has already played five this season. He has a cushion of 22 games to miss and is still scoring with the St. Louis Blues this season.
If he does, the Schenns will be the tenth brothers to play 1,000 games each. Luke will be honored Saturday prior to the afternoon game at home against the Detroit Red Wings. He hopes he can continue contributing to the Predators amid a rough start for the team. Nashville has Cup aspirations and there are proven winners like Schenn on the team to help make that happen.
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