Scott Hannan

Playing career

Scott Hannan got his start in organized hockey at the 1992 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, representing a minor team from Surrey, British Columbia. The San Jose Sharks picked him in the first round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, 23rd overall, after he played for the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL. He debuted in the NHL at the beginning of the 1998-99 season, appearing in five games for the Sharks before heading back to Kelowna for his final junior year. The following season, his first as a full-time pro, he split time between San Jose and their AHL farm club, the Kentucky Thoroughblades.

Starting with the 2000-01 campaign, Hannan became a regular on the Sharks' blue line, developing a reputation as a tough, reliable shutdown defenseman. That work earned him a spot in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game, representing the Western Conference. He really made a name for himself during the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, drawing praise for neutralizing Colorado Avalanche star center Peter Forsberg in the Western Conference Semifinals. He reached his 500th NHL game on March 18, 2007, a 4-3 loss to the Avalanche.

On July 1, 2007, Hannan signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche traded him to the Washington Capitals on November 30, 2010, in exchange for Tomas Fleischmann. He then signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Calgary Flames on August 13, 2011. A year later, on August 17, 2012, he inked another one-year, $1 million contract, this time with the Nashville Predators. The Sharks brought him back on April 3, 2013, trading a conditional seventh-round pick in 2013 for his services. After that season, he became an unrestricted free agent but re-signed with San Jose on a one-year deal on July 5, 2013. He played his 1,000th career NHL game on October 14, 2014, against the Washington Capitals. After 16 seasons in the league, Hannan announced his retirement on February 24, 2016.