Ben Chiarot quietly gave the Red Wings exactly what they needed this year
Detroit Red Wings blue liner Ben Chiarot was a stabilizing force throughout the season. His presence in the top four allowed coach Todd McLellan to have a reliable veteran presence as the team went through a rollercoaster ride at times this season.
The 34-year-old rearguard was drafted in the fourth round by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009. He eventually made it to the NHL after the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and didn’t look back. He’s played over 700 games and racked up a respectable career.
This past season, Chiarot played a full season, suiting up for 81 games. He chipped in four goals and nine assists for 13 points. Yes, Chiarot’s role isn’t to score goals. His role is predominantly as a shutdown defenseman.
That’s where things get a little dicey. He ended the season a minus-14, suggesting he wasn’t overly successful on the defensive side of the equation.
But then again, that number must be taken with a grain of salt. The Wings had a rough start and then sort of faded down the stretch. So, when looking at Chiarot’s overall season, he had a solid year for a team that fell short of expectations.
Beyond his offensive numbers, Chiarot contributed well at 5-on-5. He played a total of 1,507 minutes at even strength, notching 12 of his 13 points 5-on-5. When looking at his defensive numbers, Chiarot blocked 117 shots, dropped 136 hits, and generated 23 takeaways. However, the only concerning number is his 81 giveaways.
Where Chiarot excelled was on the penalty kill. He played a total of 140.48 minutes shorthanded, second on the team. He blocked 16 shots and delivered 11 hits to go with two takeaways and two giveaways. So, based on those numbers, Chiarot is as reliable as they come.
That is why assessing Chiarot’s performance should be evaluated in the full context, not just the snapshot provided by the main offensive numbers.
Ben Chiarot may have somewhat of a high cap hit at $4.75 million. Given his overall performance, he’s worth his current contract value. Plus, he was a good influence on up-and-coming blue liner Albert Johansson during their time playing together.
Those intangibles make Chiarot a solid leader and a positive influence on the team.
There is one question mark surrounding Chiarot this upcoming season. He’s entering the final year of his current contract. He’ll be 35 by the time he hits free agency next summer. So, would the Red Wings be willing to re-sign him?
If he doesn’t slow down, the Detroit Red Wings should definitely take a chance on bringing back the Chiarot on a short-term deal. But if the Red Wings find themselves well out of a playoff spot by the trade deadline, there’s a chance the team could move him at the deadline next spring.
3 restricted free agents who could transform the Red Wings this summer
The Detroit Red Wings will be looking to continue adding crucial pieces to their lineup in order to make a run at a playoff spot this upcoming season.
But instead of adding high-priced veterans, the Red Wings can go the game route the St. Louis Blues did last offseason and utilize an offer sheet to lure a high-end restricted free agent (RFA) to Motor City.
Now, a public service announcement. Signing an RFA comes with a hefty price. Depending on the contract value, the signing team must pay compensation. That compensation involves a number of draft picks.
Signing an RFA could also sour the relationship between the teams involved. While signing RFAs is by no means outlawed, it is frowned upon. So, we’ll keep those two points in mind as we go through this list.
Alexander Romanov, New York Islanders
Alexander Romanov emerged as the New York Islanders’ best defenseman this season. Considering the insanely high number of injuries befalling the Isles across the board, Romanov stabilized the blue line while providing solid leadership for a 25-year-old.
As it stands, the Islanders are in a bit of a bind since both Romanov and Noah Dobson will be RFAs on July 1. While the Isles will want to keep both, they may find themselves forced to choose amid cap issues.
That situation means that one of Dobson or Romanov could be plucked away via an offer sheet. If it was up to me, I’d take Romanov. He’s a much better defensive blueliner and has a higher overall ceiling than Dobson.
I could be wrong if Dobson emerges as a true No. 1 guy. But given his regression this season, I’m not so sure about that.
Romanov made $2.5 million this season. As such, successfully offer-sheeting him would require a deal somewhere in the $5 million AAV range. Under the new RFA compensation rules, that would cost the Wings a first and third-round pick.
About The Author
