After signing Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle to four-year contracts, the Canucks were a little more conservative with their next signing. Tim Schaller, a versatile fourth-line forward, signed a two-year contract worth an Average Annual Value of $1.9 million.
The issues inherent in the Roussel and Beagle contracts are minimized in the Schaller deal. $1.9 million per year seems like an overpay, but a minimal one, and the term is right at just two years. Schaller is turning 28, so will be 29 in year two of the contract.
Schaller ticks a lot of boxes that the Canucks had on their list: he’s got good size, he kills penalties, and he’s willing to step up when teams take liberties. As fourth-liners go, Schaller also has uncommon skill and has shown flashes of offensive flair from time-to-time.
Schaller’s ability to handle the puck and play at pace gives him more versatility, as he can play up the lineup if the occasion calls for it. Most of the time, however, Schaller is a fourth-line forward. He generally plays left wing, but can shift to centre if need be.
With the Boston Bruins last season, Schaller was part of a very good fourth line that took on heavy defensive zone deployment and came out ahead in shots, if not goals. Along with Noel Acciari and Sean Kuraly, the Bruins’ fourth line carried a 51.08% corsi at 5-on-5, according to Corsica.Hockey.
Schaller also led all Bruins forwards in short-handed ice time last season and put up solid shot suppression numbers in a penalty-killing role. Schaller was on the ice for 70.99 shot attempts against per 60 minutes, good for second among Bruins forwards on the third-best penalty kill in the NHL.
That’s the positive for Schaller: he’s a gritty, versatile, penalty-killing fourth-line winger, who managed to put up 12 goals and 22 points in limited minutes.
There are some question marks, however. For instance, 2017-18 was the first time Schaller played a full season in the NHL. Is there a reason he wasn’t able to fully crack an NHL lineup before he turned 27?
Schaller also has a hand injury sustained at the end of last season that required surgery. It’s expected to keep him out for three months, meaning he should be available at the start of training camp, but it could affect his off-season training.
And finally, this is another veteran forward that makes it harder for young forwards to get into the lineup. Brendan Gaunce, who played an utterly thankless role last season, could be the odd man out, but the added depth at left wing could make it harder for Jonathan Dahlen, Nikolay Goldobin, and Reid Boucher to crack the lineup as well. Heck, the left wing might be too crowded for Brendan Leipsic
It’s enough to make you wonder if the Canucks are looking to make a trade from left wing, perhaps moving Baertschi, Goldobin, or Leipsic.
All that said, there’s a lot to like about Schaller. He has more skill than your typical fourth-line grinder and should provide a boost on the penalty kill, without breaking the bank.
