Junior Shaw joined the
Ottawa 67's of the
Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at the age of 17 in
1981–82. In his rookie season, Shaw led all 67's defencemen with 72 points, scoring 13 goals and adding 59 assists in 68 games, helping Ottawa into the playoffs. In 17 playoff games, Shaw scored a goal and 14 points, as the 67's were swept by the
Kitchener Rangers in the OHL finals. In the
1982–83 season Shaw saw his offensive production improve in his second season with the 67's, scoring 12 goals and 78 points in 63 games. In nine playoff games, Shaw scored two goals and 11 points, as Ottawa won the
J. Ross Robertson Cup over the Kitchener Rangers, and earned a berth in the
1984 Memorial Cup. At the Memorial Cup, Shaw had a goal and five points in five games, as the 67's won the championship, defeating the host Kitchener Rangers 7–2 in the final game at the
Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Shaw joined the Whalers in for the
1984–85 season. He was assigned first to the
Binghamton Whalers of the
American Hockey League (AHL). However, Binghamton cut Shaw too and he was reassigned to the
Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the
International Hockey League (IHL). Shaw refused assignment and left the team, hoping to play at
Wilfrid Laurier University. Hartford threatened to sue Shaw, and forced him to join Salt Lake. In 44 games with the Golden Eagles, Shaw had three goals and 32 points. He finished the season with Binghamton, where in 24 games, Shaw had a goal and 11 points. In eight playoff games with Binghamton, Shaw finished with a goal and nine points. Shaw recorded his first NHL point with an assist on
Sylvain Turgeon's goal in an 8–2 loss to the
St. Louis Blues on February 23. Overall, he appeared in eight games, where he recorded two assists. He played in one more NHL game that season earning no points. Shaw began the 1988–89 season playing with
HC Varese in
Serie A in Italy, where in 35 games, he scored 10 goals and 40 points. In 11 playoff games, Shaw had four goals and 12 points with Varese. HC Varese won its second championship that season on March 4, 1989. Shaw returned to the Whalers organization on March 7, at the end of the
1988–89 NHL season, where he appeared in three games. On March 29, 1989, Shaw scored his first career NHL goal against
Vincent Riendeau of the St. Louis Blues in a 4–0 Whalers victory, his only point with the Whalers that season. Shaw made his playoffs debut on April 6, 1989, against the
Montreal Canadiens and appeared in three
Stanley Cup playoff games for the Whalers. Shaw signed a one-year contract extension with the Whalers in May 1989 with an additional one-year option. In the
1990 Stanley Cup playoffs, Shaw led the Whalers in scoring, earning two goals and seven points in seven games, as the Whalers lost a thrilling first round series against the
Boston Bruins. In the third game of the series on April 9, 1990, Shaw scored a goal and added three assists for a four-point game in a 5–3 Hartford win. Shaw was named to the
NHL All-Rookie Team at the end of the season, and named the Whalers best defenceman.
Gord Dineen was named captain as his (and Lamb's) replacement for the rest of that season. In 66 games, Shaw had four goals and 23 points. In his first season with the club in
1995–96, Shaw had seven goals and 61 points in 79 games. In eight playoff games, Shaw had two goals and five points, In 59 games, Shaw had six goals and 38 points. In 21 playoff games, Shaw had two goals and 11 points In the playoffs, Shaw had a goal and 12 points in 23 games, In
1998–99, Shaw began the season with the Vipers, where he scored 10 goals and 45 points in 61 games. as the Senators sought out defensive depth. Shaw was placed on
waivers in order to return to Detroit, and was claimed by the Washington Capitals on March 9, who were also dealing with defensive depth issues.
Washington Capitals Shaw returned to the NHL with the Washington Capitals in
1998–99, appearing in four games with the club, recording no points. His stay with the Capitals was short, as on March 18, 1999, Shaw and the Capitals' eighth round draft pick in the
1999 NHL entry draft were traded to the St. Louis Blues for the Blues sixth round draft pick in the 1999 NHL entry draft.
St. Louis Blues Shaw finished the 1998–99 season with the St. Louis Blues, earning no points in 12 games. Shaw saw action in four playoff games, going pointless, Shaw announced his retirement from playing hockey following the season. ==International play==