As of press time, the crafty veteran is still seeking a team for his services. He had a bit of a resurgence in his return to Carolina with 16 points in 21 games after the trade deadline. One has to believe the soon-to-be 39-year old will land with a team and find a role supplying scorers on the power play. Regardless if Stillman is signed, there is little upside to what you would get with him; a handful of assists to go with a few goals.
Collectively, the Panthers don't provide much in the way of fantasy value, and based on his free falling numbers, Stillman isn't the answer. His efficiency has taken a hit and as of late, finding the positive side of the plus/minus rating has been a challenging endeavor for the forward. Despite the struggles, a healthy Stillman could end up being one of the better point producers for the Panthers, though that is not saying much given the lack of offensive talent across the team's roster.
The decline has begun for a once potent member of the Lightning and Hurricanes. And while there’s likely some fuel left in the tank, Stillman’s upside appears to be waning. Sure, his 49-point total in 2008-09 was adversely affected by an ankle injury and concussion, but the writing’s already on the wall. His point totals have fallen in four consecutive seasons, if you throw out his half-season in 06-07.
The Panthers have brought in the 35-year-old veteran to solidify the left wing of a premier scoring line with Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss. Stillman’s numbers have declined every year since the 2003-04 campaign — discounting injury-riddled 06-07 — down from 80 points to 24-41—65 last season with Carolina and Ottawa. But quite frankly, 65 points would have been second on the Panthers’ scoring list last season, so he’ll still be a key contributor. And if Horton and Weiss continue to develop and increase point totals, Stillman could see his numbers boosted as a result.
Although he should score significantly more than last year's truncated campaign, do NOT expect a return to his 2005-06 level of productivity (76 points in 72 games). This is a contract year for the veteran, who will turn 34 in December.
Stillman will probably miss hal;f of the '06-'07 regular season due to shoulder surgery in August. Scoring predictions are risky propositions under such circumstances, but our best guess right now is about 30 points in the second half, assuming his recuperation goes as expected.
Stillman scored 80 points and had a +18 rating during the Lightning's run to the Stanley Cup in '04, but he won't duplicate those numbers here; the relatively anemic Carolina offense will enable opposing teams to focus on him, and no one on Carolina is likely to see +18 this year. He will still contribute solid numbers, but if you think someone in your league drafts mechanically, based on the most recent statistics, go ahead and let him.
