{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 1995)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Steven Santini | image = 2022 Calder Cup Finals lucas armstrong dsc02543 52169873397 o (52172380985).jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|03|07}} | birth_place = Bronxville, New York, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 207 | position = Defense | shoots = Right | league = NHL | team = Tampa Bay Lightning | prospect_team = Syracuse Crunch | prospect_league = AHL | former_teams = New Jersey Devils<br>Nashville Predators<br>St. Louis Blues | draft = 42nd overall | draft_year = 2013 | draft_team = New Jersey Devils | ntl_team = USA | career_start = 2016 | career_end = }} '''Steven Michael Santini''' (born March 7, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and captain of the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the New Jersey Devils and the Nashville Predators. He played for the Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey team of the NCAA Hockey East conference. Santini was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 2nd round (42nd overall) of the 2013 NHL entry draft.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/05/20/steven-santini-2013-nhl-draft-player-profile-39/ | title = Steven Santini: 2013 NHL Draft Player Profile #39 | publisher = Last Word On Sports | date = 2013-05-20 | accessdate = 2013-05-20}}</ref>
==Playing career==
===Amateur=== Santini spent his first two years of high school at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, New York before moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan to participate in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.<ref name="hs" />
As a youth, Santini played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the New York Rangers minor ice hockey team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Santini was rated as a top prospect who had been projected as a first round selection of the 2013 NHL entry draft.<ref>[http://www.nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2013/02/12_prospect_pulse_santini_a.php New York Hockey Journal: Prospect Pulse: Santini a package deal<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710001328/http://www.nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2013/02/12_prospect_pulse_santini_a.php |date=July 10, 2013 }}</ref> He trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team from 2011 to 2013,<ref>[http://thehockeywriters.com/steven-santini-the-next-ones-nhl-2013-draft-prospect-profile/ Steven Santini – The Next Ones: NHL 2013 Draft Prospect Profile<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and won a Silver Medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships<ref>[http://www.maxpreps.com/blogs/maxwire-national-blog/Yty3riFyekWgYWxR0cbSGA/usa-under-18-hockey-team-has-to-settle-for-silver-medal.htm USA Under-18 hockey team has to settle for silver medal - MaxWire National Blog - MaxPreps<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201213354/http://www.maxpreps.com/blogs/maxwire-national-blog/Yty3riFyekWgYWxR0cbSGA/usa-under-18-hockey-team-has-to-settle-for-silver-medal.htm |date=February 1, 2014 }}</ref> where he was named the tournament's best defenseman.<ref>[http://www.juniorhockey.com/news/news_detail.php?news_id=79150 U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team Falls to Canada, 3-2 - Junior Hockey News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In his first season at Boston College, Santini earned his role as a top-4 defensemen with the Eagles, garnering a reputation as a hard-hitting, shut-down defenseman, while also producing 3 goals and 11 points on the season. He was named to Hockey East's All-Rookie team.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/pres1314/201403/mar19awa.php? | title = 2014 Hockey East award winners | publisher = Hockey East | date = 2014-03-24 | accessdate = 2014-03-24}}</ref> He also played at the 2014 World Juniors for the United States.
Santini started his sophomore campaign paired with freshman Noah Hanifin as the top-2 defenseman for the Eagles, however, he only played in four games to start the season before being shut down due to a wrist injury. He underwent surgery, missed 16 games and returned to the lineup after the New Year's break.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2014/10/28_bcs_santini_out_for_remainder.php | title = BC's Santini out for remainder of season | publisher = collegehockeynews.com | date = 2014-10-28 | accessdate = 2017-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bceagles.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=92|title=Steve Santini - 2015-16 Men's Hockey|access-date=2016-04-09}}</ref>
He scored one goal and assisted on 19 as a junior, while helping the BC Eagles to a Frozen Four appearance where they fell short to Quinnipiac.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sny.tv/devils/news/devils-sign-former-bc-eagles-santini-wood-to-entry-level-contracts/171228902|title=Devils sign former BC Eagles Santini, Wood to entry-level contracts|website=SNY|access-date=2016-04-09}}</ref>
===Professional=== He signed a three-year entry-level deal with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League on April 9, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/15166627/new-jersey-devils-sign-boston-college-defenseman-steven-santini|title=Devils sign Boston College defenseman Santini|website= ESPN | date = 2016-04-09 |access-date=2016-04-09}}</ref> He played his first NHL game later that night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chere|first1=Rich|title=No NCAA title for Steve Santini and Miles Wood, but they'll make their NHL debuts|url=http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2016/04/no_ncaa_title_for_steve_santini_and_miles_wood_but.html|website=NJ.com|date=April 9, 2016|accessdate=22 February 2017}}</ref>
Santini scored his first NHL point in his 2016–17 NHL debut, during a 3-0 win over the Boston Bruins on January 2, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Szkolar |first1=Adrian |title=Mahopac native Santini picks up first NHL point as Devils top Bruins |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/nhl/devils/2017/01/02/mahopac-native-santini-picks-up-first-nhl-point-devils-top-bruins/96093610/ |accessdate=August 14, 2018 |publisher=The Journal News |date=January 2, 2017}}</ref> He scored his first NHL goal on January 12, 2017, against the Edmonton Oilers, due to a puck deflecting off his elbow. The Devils ended up losing in overtime 3–2.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gross |first1=Andrew |title=Mahopac native Steven Santini's 1st NHL goal will be 'funny' memory |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/nhl/devils/2017/01/13/mahopac-native-steven-santinis-1st-nhl-goal-funny-memory/96526048/ |accessdate=August 14, 2018 |publisher=The Journal News |date=January 13, 2017}}</ref>
As a restricted free agent, Santini signed a three-year, $4.25 million contract with the Devils on August 14, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/steven-santini-signs-contract-with-new-jersey-devils/c-299754778|title=Santini signs three-year contract with Devils|website=NHL.com|date=August 14, 2018|access-date=August 14, 2018}}</ref>
On June 22, 2019, Santini was traded by the Devils along with prospect Jérémy Davies and draft picks to the Nashville Predators in exchange for P. K. Subban.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tsn.ca/nashville-predators-trade-pk-subban-to-new-jersey-devils-1.1326920 | title=Predators trade Subban to Devils | date=June 22, 2019 | publisher=TSN | accessdate=23 June 2019}}</ref> In the following 2019–20 season, Santini struggled to make an impression with the Predators, appearing in just 2 games over the course of the season while playing the majority of the campaign in the AHL with affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.
On October 7, 2020, Santini was placed on unconditional waivers by the Predators for the purpose to buyout the remaining year of his contract.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/nashville-predators-trade-nick-bonino-picks-to-minnesota-wild-for-luke-kunin-1.1535554 | title = Predators trade Bonino to Wild, place Turris and Santini on waivers for buyout | publisher = The Sports Network | date = October 7, 2020 | accessdate = October 7, 2020}}</ref> On October 10, Santini signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues-sign-santini-to-one-year-two-way-contract/c-319414784 | title = Blue sign Santini to one-year, two-way deal | publisher = St. Louis Blues | date = October 10, 2020 | accessdate = October 10, 2020}}</ref>
Following three seasons within the Blues organization, Santini left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, 2023.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/kings-sign-four-players-to-nhl-contracts/c-345171014 | title = Kings sign four players to NHL contracts | publisher = Los Angeles Kings | date = 1 July 2023 | accessdate = 1 July 2023}}</ref> In the {{NHL Year|2023}} season, Santini played exclusively with the Kings AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, placing second on the team in scoring from the blueline with 5 goals and 20 points through 64 regular season games.
Leaving the Kings at the conclusion of his contract, Santini was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, 2024.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/tampa-bay-lightning-sign-four-skaters-to-one-year-two-way-contracts | title = Lightning sign four skaters to one-year, two-way contracts | publisher = Tampa Bay Lightning | date = July 1, 2024 | accessdate = July 1, 2024 }}</ref>
==Personal life== Santini's grandfather, Bob, coached hockey at Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx and founded the Catholic High School Hockey League which became part of New York's Catholic High School Athletic Association. Santini's father, Steve, played college hockey at Maine and his uncle, Rob, played at Iona. Steve and Rob later opened Brewster Ice Arena in Brewster, New York where Santini grew up playing hockey. Santini's three sisters also attended John F. Kennedy Catholic High School.<ref name="family">{{cite news |last1=Pietrafesa |first1=Dan |title=Passion for Hockey Runs in the Family |url=https://www.cny.org/stories/passion-for-hockey-runs-in-the-family,16654? |accessdate=5 November 2020 |work=Catholic New York |date=January 3, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
Santini is Catholic and his decision to attend Boston College was based in part on its being a Jesuit institution.<ref name="hs">{{cite news |last1=Pietrafesa |first1=Dan |title=Catholic Faith, Family Guide Santini to National Hockey League |url=https://www.cny.org/stories/catholic-faith-family-guide-santini-to-national-hockey-league,16653 |accessdate=5 November 2020 |work=Catholic New York |date=January 3, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2009–10 | Brewster Bulldogs | EmJHL | 17 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 42 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2010–11 | New York Apple Core | EJHL | 44 || 3 || 14 || 17 || 26 | 5 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 |- | 2011–12 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 36 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 41 | 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2012–13 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 25 || 0 || 5 || 5 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2013–14 | Boston College | HE | 35 || 3 || 8 || 11 || 52 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2014–15 | Boston College | HE | 22 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 20 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2015–16 | Boston College | HE | 41 || 1 || 18 || 19 || 50 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2016–17 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 38 || 2 || 5 || 7 || 14 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016–17 | Albany Devils | AHL | 20 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 35 | 4 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 |- | 2017–18 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 36 || 2 || 8 || 10 || 21 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017–18 | Binghamton Devils | AHL | 27 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 8 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2018–19 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 39 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 16 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | Binghamton Devils | AHL | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2019–20 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 54 || 2 || 10 || 12 || 39 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2019–20 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2020–21 | Utica Comets | AHL | 5 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2021–22 | Springfield Thunderbirds | AHL | 66 || 2 || 16 || 18 || 24 | 18 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 24 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2021–22 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | — || — || — || — || — | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2022–23 | Springfield Thunderbirds | AHL | 64 || 2 || 8 || 10 || 32 | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 4 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2023–24 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 64 || 5 || 15 || 20 || 24 | 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 58 || 6 || 11 || 17 || 20 | 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 |- | 2024–25 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 124 !! 5 !! 18 !! 23 !! 57 ! 3 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2012 | United States | U17 | {{silver2}} | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2013 | United States | U18 | {{silver2}} | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |- | 2014 | United States | WJC | 5th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016 | United States | WC | 4th | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 17 ! 2 ! 0 ! 2 ! 20 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Senior totals ! 10 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 ! 2 |}
==Awards and honours== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | colspan="3" | College |- | All-Hockey East Rookie Team | 2013–14 |<ref>[http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/pres1314/201403/mar19awa.php? LEAGUE ANNOUNCES PRO AMBITIONS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM]</ref> |- | Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman | 2015–16 | <ref>{{cite web| url = http://hockeyeastonline.com/men/pres1516/201603/mar16awa.php | title = HE present Award winners | publisher = Hockey East | date = 2016-03-28 | accessdate = 2016-03-28}}</ref> |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | colspan="3" | International |- | IIHF World U18 Championship Best Defenseman | 2013 | <ref>[http://boxscorenews.com/us-falls-to-canada-in-goldmedal-game-at-iihf-u-mens-world-p55945-68.htm U.S. falls to Canada, 3-2, in Gold-Medal Game at 2013 IIHF U-18 Men's World Championship<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Ice hockey stats|nhl=8477463|elite=96780|espn=|euro=|hr=s/santist01|hockeydb=145552|legendsm=|legends=|legendstype=|tsn=}}
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{S-ach}}}} {{succession box | before = Mike Paliotta | title=Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman | years = 2015–16| after= Dennis Gilbert}} {{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santini, Steven}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Albany Devils players Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen Category:Binghamton Devils players Category:Boston College alumni Category:Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey players Category:Catholics from New York (state) Category:Ice hockey players from New York (state) Category:Milwaukee Admirals players Category:Nashville Predators players Category:New Jersey Devils draft picks Category:New Jersey Devils players Category:People from Mahopac, New York Category:Sportspeople from Westchester County, New York Category:Ontario Reign (AHL) players Category:St. Louis Blues players Category:Springfield Thunderbirds players Category:Syracuse Crunch players Category:Tampa Bay Lightning players Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players Category:Utica Comets players Category:21st-century American sportsmen