A Bit on Ebbett

by BReynolds on Nov 21, 2009 8:42 PM CST Comment 6 comments

Now that I have second to put together some info on the guy, here are some basics on Andrew Ebbett, newest member of your Minnesota Wild. Let me start by saying, I love the pick-up, love the idea of letting the players know that they are replaceable should they decide they don't want to play.

Andrew Ebbett

#15 / Center / Chicago Blackhawks

Height: 5-9

Weight: 174

Born: Jan 02, 1983

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Andrew Ebbett	14	1	0	1	-1	2	0	0	0	0	16	6.3

From the press release:

MINNESOTA WILD CLAIMS CENTER ANDREW EBBETT OFF WAIVERS FROM CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

    SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has claimed center Andrew Ebbett off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks.

    Ebbett, 26 (1/2/83), has notched one goal in 12 NHL games this season. He scored a goal in 10 games with the Chicago Blackhawks after he was claimed off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 17, 2009. The 5-foot-9, 174-pound native of Calgary, Alberta also appeared in two games with Anaheim this season.

    He skated in 48 regular season games with the Ducks in 2008-09 registering 32 points (8-24=32) including six power play goals and 24 penalty minutes and added three points (1-2=3) in 13 playoff contests. Ebbett also skated in 29 games with the Iowa Chops (AHL) totaling 29 points (10-19=29) in 28 games. He has recorded 33 points (9-24=33) and is a plus-11 in 63 career NHL contests with Anaheim and Chicago. Ebbett collected 144 points (38-106=144) in 167 games in four seasons at the University of Michigan (2002-06).

Looking at the numbers throughout his hockey career, he averages just under a point per game, which would be more than welcome here in Minnesota. Due to his size, he is obviously unlikely to be going to a checking line role, so look for him to center either the second or third line. His goals / assists ratio suggests he is another play making type (read pass first), so hopefully someone on the team decides to shoot the puck.

My guess is he fits best on the second line. Possibly with Sheppard staying at wing? A line of Sheppard - Ebbett - Nolan could be interesting, but the Irish God of War likely is comfortable with his current line mates. Maybe on with Clutterbuck? That would make Clutterbuck more of a threat, maybe. (Just thinking out loud here folks.)

We just had a discussion of what happens when / if Bouchard returns to the line-up. A new player in the mix just adds to that question. The Wild now have too many players if everyone returns to health.

So. Let's throw some questions out there, see if we can't get some answers from the readers.

1. Where does Ebbett fit in the line-up?

2. Who are his wings?

3. What happens to him when the Wild get healthy, and if he stays, who goes?

Good luck.

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Second line

Center the second line. That’s what he played last year with Anaheim and put up decent numbers (32 points, 8-24, in 48 games.) The Ducks jettisoned him presumably because he became expendable after the Saku Koivu signing and they hoped to be able to send him to the AHL but Chicago for some reason claimed him in a move that made no sense if you ask me.

Seems like the Sheppard at wing experiment should continue. Put Clutterbuck there to do all the dirty work and chip in when he can. Maybe try Havlat there.

As for what to do when healthy: Cross that bridge when you get to it. See if anything’s working in the time it takes to get healthy; if so, don’t change much, if not, change stuff.

by KiPA on Nov 21, 2009 9:45 PM CST reply actions

I like the idea

Love it, actually. Ebbett, Clutterbuck, Havlat. Martin would need to learn how to shoot, but I like the idea of that line.

http://www.hockeywilderness.com

by BReynolds on Nov 22, 2009 6:32 PM CST up reply actions

Montreal didn't want him?

He’s got the right stature to jump right into that team.

by SpaethCo on Nov 22, 2009 5:32 AM CST reply actions

So now the Wild are picking up other people’s left over junk? I don’t see anything to like about this pickup.

by Eric B on Nov 22, 2009 11:00 PM CST reply actions

That's the problem with the Wild

Other team’s junk is better than some of our roster players; that’s just the sad truth.

Still, I don’t think getting dismissed from Chicago makes any player bad — outside of their goaltending situation their roster is stacked with talent. Now with Hossa coming off IR they needed to shuffle and clear a roster spot and some cap space.

His cap hit is under 500K, so he’s less of a cap hit than anyone we’ve called up from Houston, not to mention he’s had actual NHL experience including being the #2 center for the Ducks during the playoffs last year.

by SpaethCo on Nov 22, 2009 11:36 PM CST up reply actions