Kevin Shattenkirk wants be more than an offensive defenceman regarded as a power-play specialist.

The Washington Capitals defenceman, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July, said he wants to take a No. 1 role next season.

Shattenkirk said if he was to come back, he'd want a bigger role. Wants to be a No. 1 defenseman somewhere. — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017

He said he will see if he and Capitals can work out an extension, but would want a bigger role with the team if returned.

Shattenkirk was traded to the Capitals ahead of the trade deadline in February for a first-round pick and Zach Sanford. The Blues would have also received an additional second-round pick had the Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.

Shattenkirk ranked fourth among Capitals defencemen with an average of 18:27 of ice time during the playoffs, less time than six of the Capitals forwards averaged. He scored one goal and added five assists in 13 playoff games and finished a minus-4. Four of his six points came on the power play.

The 28-year-old averaged 19:51 minutes per game with the Blues before the trade. He finished the regular season with 13 goals and 43 assists in 80 games.

He scored a career-high 14 goals last year, while averaging 22:25 minutes per contest.

Shattenkirk was on the trade block for several months before being moved to Washington. According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, three trades involving Shattenkirk, one with the Edmonton Oilers (over the summer), and two other teams (one in November and one in January) fell through because Shattenkirk could not reach a contract extension with the new team.

According to McKenzie, the final offer to Shattenkirk in January was believed to be a seven-year deal worth $42 million contract with a $6 million AAV. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that deal was believed to have been offered by the Tampa Bay Lightning.