As I was compiling my first Ex-Penguins Update the other day, it occurred to me to check on some of last summer’s marquee free agents to see how they’re doing.
The sexy ones…the guys I would like to have signed.
Perhaps I should’ve titled this article, “All That Glitters Isn’t Gold.”
For the purpose of this post, I’ll separate my wannabe UFA signees into two groups, Tier I and Tier II. The top tier includes three forwards who combine sand with a scoring touch, Tyler Bertuzzi, Jake DeBrusk and Max Domi, and humongous backline thumper Nikita Zadorov.
Here are their results to date. Since all have a reputation for physical play, I included their hit totals with their boxcars.
| TIER ONE | |||||||||
| Player | Pos | Team | AAV | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | HITS |
| Domi | C | TOR | $3.75 M | 13 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| DeBrusk | LW | VAN | $5.5 M | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 23 |
| Bertuzzi | LW | CHI | $5.5 M | 13 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 9 |
| Zadorov | D | BOS | $5 M | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 38 |
As you can see by the stats, none of the forwards are off to jack-rabbit starts.
With goals in two of his past three games (and four in his last nine), Bertuzzi seems to be settling in with the Blackhawks following a sluggish start. Notoriously streaky, DeBrusk was goalless in his first nine games with Jimmy Rutherford’s Canucks before notching his first goal of the season on Saturday. Domi, who re-signed with the Maple Leafs, has six assists but has yet to tickle the twine.
In Boston, Zadorov seems to be pulling his considerable weight.
My second tier guys, rugged defenseman Brenden Dillon and power forward Stefan Noesen? A bit of a different story as you can see.
| TIER TWO | |||||||||
| Player | Pos | Team | AAV | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | HITS |
| Noesen | RW | NJD | $2.75 M | 14 | 5 | 7 | 12 | -3 | 35 |
| Dillon | D | NJD | $4 M | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 35 |
Noesen, my under-the-radar pick, is providing offense and grinding physical play, and at a reasonable price to boot. He’s been a terrific possession player going back to his time with the ‘Canes. Right up Mike Sullivan’s alley.
Dillon is playing to his reputation. Suffice to say, banging opposing forwards, blocking shots (29) and playing a sturdy brand of stay-at-home defense.
Alas, our missed opportunity is the Devils’ gain.
