Keith Aulie (born June 11, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who has played at the highest levels of the sport. Aulie is typically described as a large, physical, stay-at-home defenceman whose strengths lie in shot blocking, body checking and defensive coverage rather than offensive production. For a concise player listing see his profile.

Playing style and characteristics

Aulie's role on the ice centers on protecting his own zone and limiting opponents' scoring chances. As a defenceman, he is often deployed on penalty-killing shifts and against opposing teams' top lines to use his reach and strength. Observers note his physical presence in front of the net and his willingness to engage in board battles and clear rebounds. He represents a traditional defensive type valued for reliability and toughness.

Career outline

He has appeared in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several clubs. Among the NHL organisations for which Aulie has played are the Toronto Maple Leafs (Toronto Maple Leafs), the Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa Bay Lightning) and the Edmonton Oilers (Edmonton Oilers). Notable roster moves in his career include free-agent signings and short-term contracts; for example, he signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2014 (Oilers announcement).

Development and leagues

Like many professional players, Aulie progressed through Canadian junior hockey and spent time in North American minor professional leagues to develop his game before and during his NHL stints. Movements between the NHL and affiliated minor-league clubs are common for depth defence players, allowing them to adapt to different roles and provide experience to younger rosters. General information about the sport and its development paths can be found via the sport entry ice hockey overview.

Roles and examples of importance

  • Defensive specialist: used primarily to shut down scoring threats and kill penalties.
  • Physical presence: body checks, net-front clearing and blocking shots are typical contributions.
  • Depth veteran: serves as a rotational player who provides experience and stability when teams need defensive reinforcement.

Players like Aulie are important to team structure because they allow offensive-minded partners to take calculated risks while retaining defensive balance. For season-by-season records and transaction history see additional team sources such as the Maple Leafs, Lightning and Oilers pages or league references (NHL resources).

Although not typically a high-scoring star, Aulie's career illustrates the professional path of a role-focused defenceman: a mix of NHL opportunity, minor-league assignments and contract moves that together compose a long-term presence in professional hockey. For additional biographical or statistical detail consult team and league databases (player page, position guides).