If there was any player who was underwhelming at the beginning of the season but came on as the season wound down and started to fill a role that people have been waiting for him to grow into for some time.
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATION
Patrick Wiercioch entered the season with the opportunity to become a solid full time addition to the blue line corps, especially with the injury to Marc Methot to start the season opening up some minutes on a crowded blue line. He had the tools, but simply needed to put it all together.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
As was the case over the previous two seasons, Wiercioch simply didn't seem to fit Paul MacLean's system despite being a darling of the advanced stats movement. As a result he couldn't get consistent playing time and found himself sitting in the press box almost as much as he was in the lineup.
After the coaching change things got a little better, but it wasn't until he got consistent second pairing minutes alongside Cody Ceci where things really picked up and he played more in March and April, which depending on your perspective was a reason for, or result of, the overall better team play by the Senators.
He finished with 3 goals (2 of them game winners) and 13 points in 56 games, 10 points shy of his career high set in just 53 games the previous season.
THE HARD STATS
THE FANCY STATS
THE "KEY" STATS
Wiercioch is best known for his Corsi rating, which a 54.48% was 25th among all regular NHL defensemen.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
Wiercioch came into more wide-spread prominence as a member of Team Canada's Gold Medal winning entry in the World Championships. Wiercioch is a guy who doesn't really excel in any one area but he has a good skill set that he is still learning how to use to the best of his ability.
At 24 years of age, he is nearing the point where he has to put it together on a more consistent basis, which will lead to more playing time and better opportunities to put up numbers.
The drastic improvement (whether by the chicken or the egg theory in terms of opportunity earned/given) in Wiercioch's game, especially after the trade deadline, mean that there is some potential for the future. He was good at the end of the season, but is he a legitimate top 4 defenseman? I think the jury is still out on that one, and could be the guy pointed at when some of the fan base feels an upgrade on the blueline is needed.
GRADE: I think overall the season was a disappointment but the last 30 games salvaged a lot and gives hope for what is yet to come as he nears his prime. B- .
Tomorrow will be a very happy report card, or at least the subject will likely have a smile on his face, whether he sees it or not!
If you missed them, check out prior Report Cards: