NHL’s bounce back players for 2010-11
Every year 1 July marks the first day general managers are allowed to sign free agents for the upcoming National Hockey League season. This day is very exciting for hockey fans everywhere as they wait around to see who the newest member of their team will be. The excitement seems to get to the GMs as well, as every year players are signed to massive long-term contracts and go on to have a terrible first seasons. Below is a list of players who underperformed last year, and will be looking to have a bounce back year in 2010-11.
Mike Komisarek – Defenceman – Toronto Maple Leafs
Last year Mike Komisarek was the biggest name in defensive-defenceman on the market. The newly anointed all-star fielded offers from several NHL clubs, and in the end decided on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
GM Brian Burke signed Komisarek to a five-year deal worth $22.5 million. It was quickly realized that the 28-year-old defenseman was not going to live up to his contract. Having never scored more than 20 points in a season, Komisarek is a defensive specialist. However, with the Leafs he did not look very impressive. He struggled through the year suffering a bad shoulder injury part way through and was only able to play in 34 games.
Now that Komisarek has fully recovered he will be looking to rebound. Expect the veteran to feel more comfortable having been around the organization for a full year, and perhaps playing with more urgency, feeling he still has something to prove.
Martin Havlat – Right winger – Minnesota Wild
Martin Havlat was signed by the Wild on 1 July last year to a six-year $30 million contract. The 29 year-old was one of the off-seasons most coveted free agents, coming off of a 77 point season with the Chicago Blackhawks.
However, last season Havlat did not blossom in the Minnesota offence, scoring only 54 points in 81 games. On a team with very few weapons up front it was integral that Havlat have a strong season in 2009-10. His inability to put the puck in the net weighed on the Wild as they missed the playoffs, and could not find anyone else in the line-up able to create offensively.
Next season Havlat will look to put his game together in, he has been a very productive player throughout his career, and if he gets it going in Minnesota could be very dangerous.
Alex Kovalev – Right winger – Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators took a big risk signing the often elsewhere Alex Kovalev to a two-year $10 million contract.
Kovalev was coming off of two strong seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and looked to have his consistency issues worked out. However, when he got to Ottawa it seemed as though he did not feel like playing. He scored 18 goals and 31 assists, for 49 points in a 77 game season. Meant to fill the void left by Dany Heatley, Kovalev barely scratched the surface on Heatley’s 39-goal performance for the Senators a season before.
This inconsistency has followed Kovalev around his entire career, and at 37 it is unclear as to whether or not he will bounce back for the Senators in 2010-11. However, if he does get it together his skill is undeniable, and he should help ignite the Sens offence.
Mattias Ohlund – Defence – Tampa Bay Lightning
Last off-season Mattias Ohlund signed a seven-year deal worth $26.25 million with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The rugged defenseman left the Vancouver Canucks to play for only his second NHL franchise. However, he was not what the Lightning were expecting. He only managed 14 points and finished the season a minus-eight.
The Lightning will need him to have a far more productive season if they hope to take another step forward. Many also believe he was brought in to mentor the young Victor Hedman, who will need more to look up to in 2010-11.
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