Luke Schenn's long road to Nashville Predators Broadway and 1,000 NHL games

Playing even one game in the NHL is an incredible accomplishment. Playing 1,000 games is a rare feat that has only been accomplished by 397 players. That number is one larger now with Luke Schenn playing his 1,000th NHL game, getting the enormous achievement in a Nashville Predators sweater on Thursday night.

The Nashville Predators defenseman has become a fan favorite and a leader after his first year in town, and has served nearly every role imaginable during his long NHL career. His stops have included eight teams over 17 seasons, being named to the All-Rookie team, two Stanley Cup triumphs, three AHL teams, and more for the 34-year-old.

Here's a breakdown of Schenn's career up to this point.

Toronto Maple Leafs 2008-2011 GP 325 15 G 61 A 76 P 230 PIM

Schenn was drafted in the 1st round 5th overall by the Maple Leafs and made the team out of training camp. He brought a strong physical edge and took care of dirty areas and blocked shots with the best of them. He was named to the All Rookie team along with Drew Doughty. He grew in his role with the team, but it was not meant to last, as the Maple Leafs made a blockbuster offseason deal for more offense after the 2010-2011 season.

Philadelphia Flyers 2011-2016 GP 213 12 G 30 A 42 P 140 PIM

The Flyers made an effort to reshape their team, sending James van Riemsdyk over to the Leafs in exchange for Schenn. He was very much a known quantity at this point, and was a regular part of the Flyers top 4 defenders. His overall play and style though was falling out of favor with the game shifting to a faster and more offensive gear.

Los Angeles Kings 2016 GP 43 2 G 9 A 11 P 52 PIM

There was a terrible contract attached to Vincent Lecavalier, and the LA Kings needed an extra player to sweeten the deal that sent a 2016 3rd round pick and Jordan Weal to the Flyers. Schenn was thrown into the deal and thrown into the lineup for the Kings. The status quo was there for Schenn, he came in, threw hits, blocked shots, and tried to help the playoff push. He wasn't poised to resign though.

Arizona Coyotes 2016-2018 GP 142 2 G 13 A 15 P 120 PIM

The next journey was to the eternally rebuilding Coyotes. Schenn's time with the club much like those years were incredibly forgettable. Schenn did what he does, throwing hits, blocking shots, and eating minutes. His money decreased and it's hard to look good on a bad team. Then it was on to the next stop.

Anaheim Ducks 2018 GP 8 0 G 0 A 0 P 7 PIM

This was a bottom of the lineup veteran presence kind of deal, for just 1 year at $800,000 and the Ducks decided to cut their "losses" after just 8 games. Schenn would spend the remainder of his tenure with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL.

Vancouver Canucks 2018-2019 GP 18 0 G 2 A 2 P 9 PIM

The Canucks needed some jam and defensive depth, and Schenn was easy to pry away from the Ducks in exchange for Michael Del Zotto. He spent some with the Utica Comets as well, playing sparingly. He was back on the road before too long.

Tampa Bay Lightning 2019-2021 GP 63 3 G 4 A 7 P 74 PIM

Schenn proved himself a valiant fill in during his two years with Tampa Bay. He spent some time with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL, and didn't play often during the regular season, but did play in both playoff runs for the Lightning. This helped Schenn get his name etched on the Stanley Cup twice. His play in the playoffs also helped provide a boost to his career, leading to another stop.

Vancouver Canucks 2021-2023 GP 121 8 G 30 A 38 P 132 PIM

Everything clicked for Schenn during his time back in Vancouver. He was brought back to be a veteran leader, and he was having his most productive seasons offensively. This isn't something that typically happens for a player at 32 and 33 years old, but Schenn's veteran wisdom and the evolving Canucks offense made the rough and tumble defender offensively adept enough to be a desirable trade chip. Pack the bags once again.

Toronto Maple Leafs 2023 GP 15 1 G 0 A 1 P 13 PIM

The Leafs brought back Schenn to deal with the rigors of playoff hockey. His resurgence was the buzz of the league, and his spirited play in the playoffs for the Leafs made Schenn a very popular name heading into the 2023 free agent season.

Nashville Predators 2023-Current GP 67 1 G 6 A 7 P 43 PIM

He signed with the Nashville Predators and played in 63 games last season, and has tacked on 3 more this year. His reputation as a solid stay at home defensman is etched across the league. He also is known for his strength, considered one of the strongest players in the league. He's also a feared fighter, the most prolific hitter among defensmen in NHL history, and a well traveled leader.

His career probably won't have him bound for the Hockey Hall of Fame, but Luke Schenn has made an indelible mark on the league and impacted an incredible amount of people and players through his time. Congratulations to Luke Schenn, and may he have even more success in Nashville.