With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it made sense to start a new series. This features the studs and duds of the 2018 free agent class.
The annual summer of paying and overpaying players often has its share of winners and losers. A month and a half in, we take a look at those who have underwhelmed and those who have done well.
Let’s examine the centers first and work our way from there.
Studs From The Center Position
John Tavares — Toronto Maple Leafs
Alas, Tavares was the top signing of the free agent class this summer. Toronto signed him to a seven-year, $77 million contract. So far, he has lived up to the hype. Even better is the fact that Tavares has upped his numbers with Auston Matthews injured (shoulder). At press time, Tavares is averaging nearly 1.2 points per contest. When a center can fire nearly four shots a game on net, that is always a good sign. When he does not buckle under the pressure of Toronto, that is even better.
His metrics are right around team average but his production (12 goals, 11 assists) is anything but. He is on pace for over 40 goals and 40 assists. There was a reason why a team like San Jose offered well over $11 million a year. A few numbers dropped pace wise but so far Toronto and its fans have to be satisfied. Toronto has one of the best records in the league. A lot of that has to be given credit to the center who went home.
Joe Thornton — San Jose Sharks
Sometimes free agent signings pay off in a different way. Thornton’s diminished role has allowed other plays to thrive like Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl for example. Again, Thornton can keep players away from him and set up plays especially on the man advantage.
His metrics always have been good but this year, they are at some otherworldly level. Consider that the center is +11% above team relative. He is still playing around 15 minutes a night at almost 40 years old. The points may not be there (five in just 12 contests) but everything else still is. Points do not always tell the entire story.
Duds From The Center Position
Derek Ryan — Calgary Flames
Ryan has not played terribly bad but he has underwhelmed mostly. Some will argue he was destined for a bottom six role but even then, production should be higher. The center cannot even muster a shot a game in the early going (1.7 last season). His metrics overall are currently +5% over team average. However, Ryan should be able to crack the top six and yet has not. Given his salary of $3.125 million AAV, the center frustrating fantasy owners and Calgary fans alike.
Can Ryan turn it around? Sure, he could. Is it likely? Chances that Ryan gets close to his average points per game of last season is low. He played middle six mostly in Carolina and that might be his highest ceiling in Calgary.
Riley Nash — Columbus Blue Jackets
Nash enjoyed a breakout season of sorts in Boston and then cashed in with a three-year deal. Columbus signed him to a $2.75 million AAV thinking he could at least be that middle six player who might end up around 25-30 points. So far, this has not quite gone to play as Nash has assumed a more defensive role. His offensive zone deployment is just 28.6% compared to his near 50% career average.
The result comes down to a player who plays 12-13 minutes a night with just two points in 19 games. Average shots were near 1.3 to 1.5 shots dipped to 0.8, A fourth line center who gets cratered off possession wise (-6% compared to team average). One still has to wonder what Columbus thought they were signing or the role assigned. It did not start that way but so far, Nash is in a purgatory of sorts which has been a dud.
