TPL Profiles :: Derek Meech

AGE :: 25
SIZE :: 5-11 / 197
ACQUIRED :: 2002 Draft [7 / 229]
CONTRACT :: Final Year of a 3-year deal [2010]
CAP HIT :: $483,333
EXPERIENCE :: 2009-10 will be his 3rd NHL season, all with the Red Wings
LIKELY ROLE :: 7th Defenseman

ACCOMPLISHMENTS :: 2001 Memorial Cup Champion, 2008 Stanley Cup Champion

DEFINING MOMENT :: Fair or not, he is viewed by many to be the guy that cost the Red Wings Kyle Quincey.

THREE REASONS TO LOVE HIM ::
1. Willing and able to play both defense and wing
2. Salary is only SLIGHTLY higher than ours at TPL
3. A strong skater that is very efficient with his strides

ONE REASON TO HATE HIM :: Clearly a prodigy, he was able to teach himself how to play the guitar using only the internet. Word?

RANDOM FACT :: He is the only current Red Wing to have a Memorial Cup Championship to go with his Stanley Cup

STRENGTHS ::
1. Hockey sense
2. Underrated breakout pass
3. Very talented skater

WEAKNESSES ::
1. Lack of playing time results in bonehead plays once in a while
2. Size – especially for a defenseman
3. Buried on the depth chart

HE’S A FAVORITE OF ::  Underdog.

BIO :: Meech played five seasons with the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, where he was the defensive partner of future NHL All-Star Dion Phaneuf, before joining the Griffins for another three. He was an AHL All-Star during his final season on the farm.

By 2007-08, he had joined the Red Wings full-time, working his way into the lineup as an injury replacement – usually as a defenseman, but occasionally as a forward. Despite not playing in enough games to have his name engraved on the Cup, the Wings successfully petitioned the League to make an exception.

In 2008-09, Meech played in exactly half of the regular season games, and also got into two playoff games.

FUTURE :: The writing may be on the wall for Derek Meech, after GM Ken Holland made it known that he had every intention of trading a defenseman during or after training camp (Andreas Lilja’s health permitting). Despite the departure of Chris Chelios, the emergence of Jonathan Ericsson has kept Derek Meech in healthy scratch territory and he may be on the move. However, thanks to his versatility and incredibly cheap price tag, he may again serve as the team’s seventh defenseman.

RELEVANT STATS ::