2015 Season In Review: Tim Jackman

Acquired for the modest cost of a 2014 sixth round draft pick during the 2013-14 season, Tim Jackman has built a 12 year NHL career on the back of hard work and a willingness to lay the body and drop the gloves. The Anaheim Ducks became his sixth NHL team, and the Minot, North Dakota-born forward's 81 games in Anaheim have been amongst his most effective in the league at 33 years old. Jackman earned an extension during the season, bringing him back to Anaheim for the coming year at the modest ticket of $0.7 mil, as well as getting his first taste of playoff hockey appearing in every game of the first two rounds.

Season Recap

Jackman's 55 games were the most regular season appearances he's had since the 11-12 campaign when he appeared in 75 games with the Calgary Flames. Since arriving in Anaheim Jackman has put up the highest points per game numbers since he was in his late 20's with the Flames, while continuing to be a gruff physical presence that has averaged a hair over two hits and dropping the gloves eight times this past season. Averaging 8:23 of ice time, he proved a valuable veteran fourth line presence.

December 5 at Minnesota was Jackman's biggest offensive contribution of the season, as he assisted on Hampus Lindholm's goal that gave Anaheim a 3-0 lead and scored the game-tying goal early in the third period as the Ducks topped the Wild 5-4. His first goal of the season came at Philadelphia in his fourth appearance of the year on October 14, also scoring at Honda Center against the Jets on Selanne's jersey retirement night and at Florida in early February. Jackman had the game winning goal against his former Flames in a 6-3 win on January 21. According to hockeyfights.com he went 3-3-2 in his donnybrooks, and had a season-high 21 penalty minutes thanks to a pair of fights with John Scott on October 26.

2014-15 Stats

(Jackman's 14-15 stats from hockeyDB.com)

Ducks Impact

For all the focus on Jackman as a grit and grind, 'throw fists if necessary' type of player, he was also solid at turning play for the Ducks this past season. His 50.4 shot attempts percentage at even strength this past regular season was the highest since his career-high scoring season of 10-11, and even more telling is the 53.4 scoring chance percentage at 5-on-5 with him on ice.

For a player who is asked to provide a physical presence, Jackman made the most of his minutes by not just taking the body and dropping the mitts when necessary, but also by helping Anaheim retain the majority of possession and chances in his brief moments of impact on the game. Not much more one can ask for from a fourth liner.

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Additional stats in this piece courtesy of hockey-reference.com and war-on-ice.com