Steven Santini Bio
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). Standing 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 207 pounds, Santini shoots right and has built his reputation as a hard-hitting, defensive-minded blueliner. He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 42nd overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and has since suited up for the Devils, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Los Angeles Kings organization before joining Tampa Bay.
Early Life and Background
Steven Michael Santini was born on March 7, 1995, in Bronxville, New York, and raised in nearby Brewster, New York. He comes from a family with deep roots in the sport of ice hockey. His father, Steve, played college hockey at the University of Maine, and his uncle, Rob, played at Iona College. His paternal grandfather, Bob, coached hockey at Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx and founded the Catholic High School Hockey League, which later became part of New York’s Catholic High School Athletic Association.
After Steve and Rob Santini retired from playing, they opened Brewster Ice Arena in Brewster, New York, where a young Steven spent much of his time learning the game. As a youth player, he represented the New York Rangers minor ice hockey team at the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, an early signal of the talent that would eventually take him to the highest levels of the sport.
Path to Hockey
Steven Michael Santini attended John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, New York, for his first two years of secondary school before relocating to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to join the USA Hockey National Team Development Program from 2011 to 2013. During that stretch, he was widely regarded as a top prospect and was projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He capped his time in the program by helping the United States win a silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he was recognized as the tournament’s best defenseman.
Following the 2013 draft, Santini enrolled at Boston College, where he suited up for the Boston College Eagles men’s ice hockey team of the NCAA Hockey East conference. In his freshman season, he immediately earned a top-four role with the Eagles, recording 3 goals and 11 points while gaining a reputation as a hard-hitting, shutdown defenseman. His strong first year earned him a place on Hockey East’s All-Rookie team, and he also represented the United States at the 2014 World Junior Championship.
Steven Santini Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
After his freshman year at Boston College, Santini returned for his sophomore campaign, where he was paired with fellow freshman Noah Hanifin as the Eagles’ top-two defensemen. A wrist injury limited him to just four games before he was shut down, underwent surgery, and missed 16 games. He returned to action after the New Year’s break and contributed steadily the rest of the way.
As a junior, Santini recorded 1 goal and 19 assists while helping the Boston College Eagles reach the Frozen Four, where they were eliminated by Quinnipiac. On April 9, 2016, after that junior season, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. He played his first NHL game that very night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
New Jersey Devils Era (2016–2019)
Steven Michael Santini made his NHL debut in the 2016–17 season and quickly began logging time on the New Jersey blueline. He picked up his first NHL point during a 3-0 win over the Boston Bruins on January 2, 2017, and then scored his first NHL goal on January 12, 2017, against the Edmonton Oilers, when a puck deflected off his elbow and into the net in a 3-2 overtime loss.
Following the 2017–18 season, and as a restricted free agent, Santini signed a three-year, $4.25 million contract extension with the Devils on August 14, 2018. His time in New Jersey came to a close on June 22, 2019, when he was traded, along with prospect Jérémy Davies and draft picks, to the Nashville Predators in exchange for P. K. Subban.
Nashville Predators Era (2019–2020)
Steven Michael Santini joined the Nashville Predators organization for the 2019–20 season but struggled to break into the NHL lineup. Over the course of the campaign, he appeared in just two games at the top level, spending the majority of the year with Nashville’s AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. On October 7, 2020, the Predators placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out the remaining year of his contract, ending his brief tenure in Nashville.
St. Louis Blues Era (2020–2023)
Just three days after being bought out by Nashville, Steven Michael Santini signed a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues as a free agent on October 10, 2020. He spent the next three seasons within the Blues organization, splitting time between the NHL club and their AHL affiliate. When his deal expired, he departed St. Louis as a free agent at the end of the 2022–23 season.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2023–2024)
On July 1, 2023, Steven Michael Santini signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings. In the 2023–24 season, he played exclusively with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, where he finished second on the team in scoring from the blueline, recording 5 goals and 20 points through 64 regular-season games. His contract with the Kings expired at the end of that campaign.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2024–Present)
On July 1, 2024, Steven Michael Santini signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent. He has since been assigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, where he serves as team captain while remaining under contract to the Lightning organization. He continues to provide steady, defense-first play and veteran leadership on the Crunch blueline.
Driving Style and Strengths
Steven Michael Santini is widely recognized as a hard-hitting, shutdown defenseman who takes pride in the defensive side of the game. His large 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame allows him to win board battles, clear the crease, and log heavy minutes in defensive-zone situations. While he is not primarily known as an offensive player, he has shown he can contribute on the power play and chip in points from the blueline, including his 20-point AHL season with the Ontario Reign in 2023–24.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Steven Michael Santini’s career milestones are his selection 42nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, his silver medal and best-defenseman award at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships, and his first NHL goal against the Edmonton Oilers on January 12, 2017. He has also been part of several notable transactions, including the 2019 trade that sent P. K. Subban to the Devils, and he currently serves as captain of the Syracuse Crunch.
Steven Santini Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Although Steven Michael Santini’s career is in hockey rather than auto racing, his family background is deeply rooted in the sport. His paternal grandfather, Bob Santini, coached hockey at Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx and founded the Catholic High School Hockey League, which later became part of New York’s Catholic High School Athletic Association. His father, Steve, played college hockey at the University of Maine, and his uncle, Rob, played at Iona College. Together, Steve and Rob later opened Brewster Ice Arena in Brewster, New York, where Steven spent much of his childhood.
Personal Life
Steven Michael Santini is Catholic, and his decision to attend Boston College was influenced in part by the school’s Jesuit heritage. He has three sisters, all of whom also attended John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, New York. Outside of hockey, Santini continues to live a relatively private life focused on his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season, Steven Michael Santini is serving as captain of the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League while remaining under contract to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. He continues to anchor the Crunch blueline with the same hard-hitting, defense-first style that has defined his professional career, providing leadership to a young Syracuse roster.
As a veteran presence in the AHL, Santini remains a candidate to be called up to the Tampa Bay Lightning should injuries or roster moves require reinforcement on the parent club’s back end. His steady play and professional approach have made him a respected leader in the Lightning organization as the 2025 season unfolds.