Once again it's that time of year here on Defending Big D where we take a look at each player that suited up for 25 or more games this season (and are still with the team) and take a look back at their season. What was good about it, what wasn't so good, and the lasting impression they left us as we go into summer.
Key Stat: 2 - Shorthanded goals scored by Toby, one scored at the start of the season in October against Tampa Bay and the other scored in the last month of the season versus San Jose. His two shorthanded goals actually places him 16th (tied of course) in the league in that category.
The Good: Toby's calling card is obviously his defensive work and next to Jamie Benn - who he was paired up with in the later half of the season on the PK - he is as dependable as anyone while playing down a man. He's a solid depth guy who can give you 10 to 12 minutes a night, plays with lots of hustle and rarely panics when forced to make a play in his own zone.
The Bad: After a 9 goal campaign the previous season and showing flashes of scoring ability that had been on full display in the AHL, there was thought that Toby was ready to step up some this season and become a double digit goal scorer to go along with his PK prowess. Obviously missing 16 games due to injury at the start of 2011 hurt and it felt like Marc Crawford rarely played Toby outside of shorthanded situations in the first half of the season.
The Bottom Line: Toby will once again be looked upon as a solid depth player for the Stars when the season opens up in October. It's probably foolish at this point to expect huge numbers from him as the work he does on the ice - especially on the penalty kill (have we mentioned he's pretty good on the PK?) - isn't exactly recorded by regular stats. He's not an overly physical player but he does possess good speed. He doesn't get many shifts on the ice, but the ones he does take are ones with lots of hustle and hard work.
The Vote: Rate Petersen below on a scale of A to F (A being the best of course) based on his performance relative to his potential and your expectations for the season.