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: 15 – Total points accumulated this season, matching his NHL career high. He also had a career high shots on goal to go along with a shooting percentage of 5.8%, his lowest in the last three seasons.
The Good: Wandell showed this season that he can have a positive impact on the team’s ability to possess the puck. He and Vincour as a team had quite a few shifts of extended offensive zone time. Of course, it would be nice if he could turn his puck possession into actual goals on a more consistent basis.
The Bad: When injuries took down both Jamie Benn and Mike Ribeiro, Wandell had a chance to show what he could do playing up in the lineup. Unfortunately, during these times, Wandell became almost invisible and did not display the same possession skills he showed when getting limited minutes on the fourth line. He needs to find a way to contribute against tougher competition in order to provide more depth scoring on a team that struggles to score.
The Bottom Line: For a fourth liner, Wandell performed to expectations. When he played up in the lineup, his performance suffered and his flashes of speed often puts the puck ahead of his stick and fizzles. Seeing his brain catch up with his speed and puck handling could help Wandell produce in the goal scoring department, and he made great strides in puck possession this season.
The Vote: Rate Wandell 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 he was here. Vote after the jump.
How would you rate Tom Wandell’s season?
| A | 1 |
| B | 21 |
| C | 122 |
| D | 83 |
| F | 12 |