Shane O ' Brien Shane O ' Brien ( born August 9 , 1983 ) is an Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman , currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche . He has previously played for the Nashville Predators , Vancouver Canucks , Anaheim Ducks , and the Tampa Bay Lightning . Playing career . Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning . Playing major junior in the Ontario Hockey League ( OHL ) , O ' Brien was drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 8th round , 250th overall , in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft . Before earning a full - time roster spot with Anaheim , he played with their minor league affiliates , the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) . O ' Brien led all AHL defenceman in scoring during the 2006 Calder Cup playoffs with six goals and 22 points in 19 post - season games . The Pirates had made it to the semi - finals where they were defeated in seven games by the Hershey Bears . In the off - season , he was re - signed by the Ducks to a one - year contract on August 3 , 2006 . O ' Brien made his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings on October 6 , 2006 . He scored his first NHL goal later that month against Dominik Hašek in a 4 - 1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on October 18 . He completed the night with a Gordie Howe hat trick by getting an assist and a fight against Brad Norton . On November 8 , he scored a goal and two assists against the Vancouver Canucks for a three - point night . At the trade deadline on February 24 , 2007 , O ' Brien was dealt with a third round draft pick in 2007 to the Tampa Bay Lightning for goaltender Gerald Coleman and a first round draft pick in 2007 . He had established himself as a fighter during his rookie season . At the time of his trade , he was ranked fifth in the league in fights with 12 . Making the transition to Tampa Bay , however , his role as an enforcer was diminished as the club was less prone to fight as the Ducks had been . He made his NHL playoff debut with the Lightning on April 12 , meeting the New Jersey Devils in the first round . After finishing his rookie season with a combined total of two goals and 16 points in the regular season between Anaheim and Tampa Bay , he was re - signed by the Lightning in the off - season . At $ 2 million over two years , the contract saw O ' Brien make $ 875 , 000 the first year and $ 1 . 125 million in 2008 – 09 – a raise from his $ 495 , 000 salary of the previous season . He went on improving to four goals and 21 points in the subsequent season . Vancouver Canucks . On October 6 , 2008 , O ' Brien was traded with forward Michel Ouellet to the Vancouver Canucks for defenceman Lukáš Krajíček and prospect Juraj Šimek . During his first year in Vancouver , O ' Brien received a minor fine of $ 2 , 500 on January 29 , 2009 , after taking part in a post - game altercation with Ryan Clowe and Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks nine days earlier on January 20 . Pavelski allegedly speared Canucks forward Daniel Sedin at the end of the game , a 2 – 1 overtime loss , leading O ' Brien and teammate Willie Mitchell to intervene . Soon thereafter , O ' Brien garnered significant media attention when , after being unexpectedly made a healthy scratch , he claimed that general manager Mike Gillis implied in a one - on - one meeting that he is only interested in him fighting . O ' Brien went on to speculate to the media whether Vancouver was the right fit for him . After another meeting with Gillis the next day , O ' Brien apologized through the media for what he described as " selfish " comments borne of frustration , and that he misunderstood Gillis in their initial meeting . In the subsequent 2009 playoffs , O ' Brien scored his first goal as a Canuck against the Chicago Blackhawks in game six of the second round . The goal tied the score at 3 – 3 in the second period , although Chicago went on to eliminate the Canucks 7 – 5 . Becoming a restricted free agent in the off - season , O ' Brien re - signed with the Canucks to a one - year , $ 1 . 6 million contract after turning down the arbitration process . Following an altercation with the New York Rangers on November 3 , 2009 , O ' Brien was suspended for one game by the NHL for poking Rangers forward Sean Avery from across the two team ' s benches with his stick . On December 20 , 2009 , O ' Brien scored his first goal in 102 regular season games in a 3 – 1 loss to the St . Louis Blues . Later in the season , on March 30 , 2010 , head coach Alain Vigneault announced that O ' Brien would sit out the next three games for disciplinary reasons . According to the Team 1040 , a local sports radio station , O ' Brien showed up late for the previous Monday ' s practice . Besides the incident , however , Vigneault added there was more to the situation than O ' Brien being late . O ' Brien was not permitted to skate with the team until April 4 . He finished his second season in Vancouver with two goals and eight points over 65 games . In the 2010 playoffs , he added a goal and two assists in 12 games as the Canucks were eliminated by the Blackhawks in the second round . Following the Canucks ' playoff elimination , he discussed his upcoming restricted free agency and commented on a desire to have more leeway with the coaches . On October 2nd , 2010 the Vancouver Canucks placed O ' Brien on waivers . Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche . Three days after being placed on waivers , O ' Brien was traded to the Nashville Predators , along with Dan Gendur for Ryan Parent and Jonas Andersson . While in Nashville he tied a career high in games played ( 80 ) adding two goals and seven assists . He played in the all of the Predators 12 playoff games but went unsigned by Nashville following the playoffs and became a free agent . On July 13th , 2011 , he signed a one - year contract with the Colorado Avalanche . Personal life . O ' Brien was born in Port Hope , Ontario , and comes from a lineage of hockey players . His father , Pat O ' Brien , played junior in Canada , while his uncle , Dennis O ' Brien , had a 10 - year career in the NHL , mostly with the Minnesota North Stars .