Alex Iafallo

Last Season

Thirteen goals and 29 points in 79 games, plus-three, on fifteen and a half minutes a night. That is close to his career rate and the plus-three on this roster is a good number for a bottom-six forward.

The Finesse Game

Ordinary tools used well. He shoots accurately from the slot, makes the simple pass, and does not turn the puck over in dangerous places. A hundred and twenty-four goals in 663 games describes a player who has scored steadily without ever threatening to score a lot.

The useful part is positional. He is always available for a pass, always on the right side of the puck, and can be moved up the lineup for a stretch without the line falling apart.

The Physical Game

Six feet and 201, and he is willing everywhere — forecheck, wall, net front. Fourteen penalty minutes in a full season describes a player who is engaged without being reckless.

The Intangibles

Undrafted out of Minnesota-Duluth, and he has played more than six hundred NHL games. Coaches at two organisations have used him in every situation because he never needs to be told anything twice.

At thirty-two he is a third-line winger who kills penalties and does not hurt his team. That role lasts a few more years and then ends quickly.