Free Agent Profile: Alex Tanguay

Alex Tanguay is one of the top remaining point producers left on the open market but more than two weeks into the free agency period, he hasn’t received much interest around the league.  Here is a closer look at his situation.

Tanguay is one of the oldest forwards still available but has a proven track record of producing, even as he gets older.  Last year with Colorado and Arizona, Tanguay recorded eight goals and 27 assists in 70 games including 13 points in 18 games with the Coyotes after being acquired.  Over the past three years, he has averaged 0.61 points per game which is still above average and is even more impressive when you consider that most of those points came at even strength.  In his career, he has 283 goals and 580 assists in 1,088 NHL games between Colorado, Calgary, Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Arizona.

So why is he still unsigned?  For starters, his age (36) works against him, as does the fact he plays smaller than his size and is showing signs of slowing down.  Tanguay also isn’t the best of players in his own end which limits the type of role he can succeed in down to a second or third line with some other two-way players.

Potential Suitors

At this point, Tanguay would fit somewhere on a team that has a short-term vacancy in an offensive role where he could serve as a placeholder for another player or prospect later on in the season or on a team that is lacking in forward depth.  Teams that fit one of those criteria include Ottawa, Montreal, Arizona (where we originally predicted he’d sign), Anaheim, and Minnesota.

Projected Contract

Tanguay ranked 33rd on our Top 50 UFA list and we had originally projected that he wouldn’t have as much difficulty getting a contract as he has and that he’d stay with the Coyotes as a veteran mentor for $2.5MM.  At this stage of free agency, where teams tend to wait out the remaining UFA’s, it’s highly unlikely he will be able to get that much.  A one year pact closer to $1MM even is looking more likely at this point considering who else is still available and that some teams have filled out their rosters.