Position: LW/RW
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 187 lbs
Birthdate: May 17th, 1984 (27 years old)
Birthplace: Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Acquired: Signed Free Agent, 2011
2010-2011 Team: Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins / Pittsburgh Penguins
2010-2011 Stats (WBS): 62 GP - 20 G - 17 A - 37 P - 61 PIM
2010-2011 Stats (PGH): 7 GP - 0 G - 0 A - 0 P - 5 PIM
2011-2012 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Team Role: Top 9 Forward
Last year: Wallace spent the bulk of his time last year with the WBS Penguins, otherwise known as the "Baby" Penguins. He put up respectable points with the amount of games played, putting up close to 40 points in a little over 60 games played. He plays a more physical game as a bigger forward and is known to throw hits when necessary, and certainly drops the glove when he feels the need to. He did put up 20 goals once again for WBS this past season and can certainly help on the offensive side of the game, but his vision isn't really that of a top 6 forward. However, playing with someone like Casey Cizikas or David Ullstrom, it's possible to see him slotting into the 2nd line if the chemistry clicks. Wallace was also called up on an emergency basis when the injury bug hit like it did for Pittsburgh last year after the loss of their 1 and 2 centers.
Expectations: Wallace isn't a flashy forward nor will he ever be expected to be. Much like Matt Moulson however, he's a very gritty player and while he doesn't have the hands and hockey sense of Moulson, he has the ability to get the puck into the net 20+ times a season, and that's what matters most. We shouldn't expect more than a 40-45 point season out of him, but we should be able to expect some offense out of him and even more so, to come to the defense of his teammates. He's a physical forward, and he needs to maintain that name to keep Connecticut as his home.
Projections: GP 70 - 23 G - 14 A - 37 P
Thoughts:
AT: For anyone that has been following the Sound Tigers for years, they know the name Tim Wallace very well. A few years back while on WBS in a playoff series with Bridgeport, Wallace used some cheap shots to injure a few players. However, a poll on another blog shortly after the signing seemed to say that most Sound Tigers fans were willing to forgive and forget in order to help the team move forward. With such a wonderful core this year in Bridgeport, it's the right thing to do. We welcome Tim Wallace with open arms, and more importantly, his goals.
CH: Wallace is a gritty, character player, who has played in a limited role for the Penguins over the past few seasons. He will fit in well with a Sound Tigers team that could use a little jam in the top-9. Most importantly, he can score at the AHL level, which is something the Sound Tigers needed. Combine his physicality and scoring ability, and you have a very productive AHL player. From talking to Penguin fans who follow the WB/S Penguins, Sound Tigers fans (and Isles fans) should be in for a treat with Wallace.
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