Luke Schenn

Lore & Background

Schenn played junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he was named to the WHL Second All-Star Team in his final season. He was a highly touted prospect leading into the 2008 NHL entry draft, ranked fifth among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Scouts compared him to Dion Phaneuf and Adam Foote. He made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs on October 9, 2008, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after his first season, leading all NHL rookies in blocked shots and all rookie defencemen in hits.

Schenn is a stay-at-home defenceman focused on preventing goals, known for a physical style of play that places him among NHL leaders in hits. He holds the NHL all-time record for most hits by a defenceman, surpassing Brooks Orpik on December 3, 2022. During his time with the Maple Leafs, he ran a charity called "Luke's Troops" that helped military families attend home games. His younger brother Brayden was also drafted fifth overall in 2009.

Reader's Guide

Luke Schenn's career is defined by his physical, defensive style and his longevity as a stay-at-home defenceman. After being drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, he quickly established himself as a reliable blueliner, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. His tenure with the Maple Leafs saw him develop into a top-four defenceman, though his play fluctuated before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012, where he played alongside his brother Brayden. Subsequent stints with the Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, and Vancouver Canucks saw him move between the NHL and AHL, but his career reached its peak with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won consecutive Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. His most notable individual achievement is becoming the NHL's all-time leader in hits by a defenceman, a testament to his physical brand of hockey. Schenn's career illustrates the value of a defensive specialist who can contribute to championship teams, even as his role shifted over time.

Did You Know?

• He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
• Schenn is the NHL's all-time record holder for most hits by a defenceman.