Ty Emberson

Last Season

Two goals and twelve points in 72 games, a minus-one, on fifteen and a half minutes a night. Those are the numbers of a player who was never a problem and never the story, which for this role is the point.

The Finesse Game

Modest offensively and entirely comfortable with that. He makes a clean first pass, does not force plays through the middle of his own zone, and gets pucks to the net without pretending the shot is a weapon. He rarely joins a rush and almost never gets caught doing it.

The skating is solid — good enough to close a gap, good enough to turn and retrieve under pressure. What stands out is the decision-making. He plays a simple game quickly, which is the difference between a third-pair defenseman a coach can trust and one he has to hide.

The Physical Game

Six feet and 193, which is on the small side for the job, and he compensates with positioning and good stick detail. He is willing along the wall and in front of his net without being able to physically dominate anyone.

The Intangibles

Came over from San Jose in the Cody Ceci trade and has been steadily more useful every year since. Right-handed defensemen who defend properly and do not require protection are worth real money; he is on the cheap end of that.

The ceiling is what it is — this is a third-pair player who can survive on a second pair when needed. On a team with this much money committed up front, that is exactly the kind of contract that decides seasons.