2009-2010 Wayne Primeau

From Beauchemin to Stalberg, we're taking a look at and grading (please read the criteria below) the 2009-10 season for every player who laced 'em up for the Maple Leafs for a significant number of games during the campaign, with an eye towards 2010-11. That means only guys that are still property of the Maple Leafs. We're doing this in concert with Maple Leafs Hot Stove. Next up, Wayne Primeau.

Wayne Primeau

#18 / Center / Toronto Maple Leafs

Height: 6-4

Weight: 225

Born: Jun 04, 1976

Years in the NHL: 13

Became a Leaf: Part of the deal that sent Anton Stralman and Colin Stuart to Calgary.

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent; $1.4M cap hit last season

Today's Maple Leaf Hot Stove's turn. Garrett Bauman will be taking the reins.

Acquired via trade, Primeau was brought in to provide a veteran presence to a young locker room, add grit to the fourth line and fill the role of defensive faceoff specialist.

Although he did not particularly stand out during his 59 games, Primeau was relativley effective in his limited (albeit important) role. An unrestricted free agent, he is unlikely to return barring a substantial paycut from the $1.4m he earned last season.

Read the Full Profile at Maple Leafs Hot Stove and come over the jump for more.

Noteworthy Stat:

24 of the Maple Leafs’ 30 wins in 2009/10 came with Primeau in the lineup.

Audience Participation

Rate Primeau below on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) based on his performance relative to his potential and your expectations for the season - if he had the best year you could have imagined him having, give him a 10; if he more or less played as you expected he would, give him a 5 or a 6; if he had the worst year you could have imagined him having, give him a 1.

The Discussion

Did Wayne Primeau fill his role adequately, or did you expect more of an impact? Do you think he will be back next season, or should the fourth-line centre role be given to a prospect (or perhaps rotated among several prospects)  in the system?

Eye-Candy

How would you rate Wayne Primeau's 2009-2010 season?