Cheechoo is coming off a full year with the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League, scoring 18 goals with 29 assists in 55 games. The two-way deal he signed in the offseason means he's could open the season with Peoria of the AHL, but David Perron's uncertainty and a couple of open forward spots leave a door open for Cheechoo.
The former Maurice Richard winner (56 goals back in 2005-06) scored just five goals in 61 games for Ottawa last season before agreeing to a tryout contract with Dallas for 2010-11. It's a solid low-risk venture for Dallas, but it's been three years since he was remotely productive on the ice.
Cheechoo will get a chance to start the season on one of Ottawa's top two lines. He's fully recovered from the injuries of the past few seasons so he could surprise a few people this season. He could hit 20+ goals and 20-25 assists if all goes well with the Senators.
As always, consistency is the Achilles' heel for Cheechoo. The man with the cool last name had an even cooler 56 goals in the 2005-06 season. Compare that to a year ago when he deposited just 23 pucks in the net and you might wonder how his numbers tumbled so quickly. He was absent for 13 games last year, accounting for a portion of the decline, but anyone capable of a gaudy total like 56 goals deserves attention in fantasy circles. Count on new coach Todd McLellan to instill more life into Cheechoo's game but understand there is risk to the reward.
Nobody has benefited more from Thornton's arrival than Cheechoo. Cheechoo's numbers dropped significantly from the 2005-06 season when he won the Rocket Richard trophy and registered 93 points (56 goals and 37 assists) in 82 games, to the 2006-07 season when he posted 69 points (37 goals and 32 assists) in 76 games. Even if you factored in the six games he missed or the 67 fewer shots he took, the decline was significant and wasn't a fluke. While another 90-point season is possible for Cheechoo, it is not likely, expect him in the mid-70 range. He is worthy of second- or third-round pick in your fantasy draft.
Cheechoo’s start to the 2005-06 season was nothing special, but when Joe Thornton came to town things clicked and then some, to the tune of a league-high 56 goals. At times it seemed like everything Cheechoo threw at the net was going in last year, but it was no surprise to see him reach a lofty goal total, given his hands, shot, and offensive instincts. Things will need to fall his way for another 50 goals to happen – you can say that about almost any forward – but it would be a stunner if Cheechoo doesn’t bag at least 40-plus. The Sharks certainly believe here, as they gave Cheechoo a fat five-year contract extension last February.
He's not the prettiest skater out there, but he's got good hands and a decent shot, and as a result he lights the lamp plenty of times, thank you. Cheechoo's game was taking off over the final third of 2003-04 – he scored 14 goals in the final 29 games of the regular season, including six game-winners – and we could see a similar pace when things get going this October.
