Tuesday, August 26, 2008

28 profiles in 28 days....The Sparkplug

Welcome back to TST's 28 profiles in 28 days. Here's the backstories of players previously profiled:
Kris Beech....The Unwanted One
Matt Cooke...The New Ruu
Sidney Crosby....The Chosen One
Pascal Dupuis….The Iceman
Ruslan Fedotenko….The Battletank
Eric Godard....The Goon


Basics
Player Name: Tyler Kennedy
How Acquired: Drafted in 99th overall (4th round) in 2004
Position: Any forward position (natural center but expected to play mostly wing)
Age: 22
Contact Situation: Signed thru 2008-09 season, $542,000 cap hit (RFA after this season)

History
Last Season Stats: (Pittsburgh) 55 games played, 10 goals, 9 assists =19 points...(With Wilkes-Barre) 10 gp, 5g, 4a, 9p....Playoffs: 20 gp, 0g, 4a, 4 p
Last Season Write-up: Kennedy didn't make the the Pittsburgh roster out of camp last season but he quickly proved to management that he was performing at a level above the AHL level. Kennedy then put up 6 goals and 4 assists in his first 17 NHL games....TK got diagnosed with mononucleosis in mid January and missed a month and after that point his production really diminished as he tallied only 2 goals and 9 assists in the last 44 post-injury games....Numbers only tell half the story though, as TK does things like hustle, play defense and stand up for teammates (as seen by kicking Scottie Upshall's ass)
Career Year Stats: Would have to be last season, since he was a rookie

Outlook
Player progressing, in prime or regressing: Kennedy is progressing. He's the youngest forward on the team not named Staal, Malkin or Crosby.
Potential line-mates: Maxime Talbot, Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke, Staal
"Best case scenario" stats: 82 games played 20 goals, 20 assists, 40 points...Kennedy could be a 20/20 guy one day soon. If he gets some minutes that day may come sooner than later
Notes: The Penguins will look to Kennedy to again provide the energy and uptempo play on whatever line he ends up with. Keep in mind that unlike every other forward on the roster (except enforcer Eric Godard), Kennedy is the only right handed shot on the unit...Could that be an advantage if Crosby needs a linemate?
Interesting fact: Has a hit that can break glass. Somewhat resembles Paperboy.


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