Taffe is a journeyman who has spent his career bouncing between different clubs within the NHL and AHL. Last season, the depth forward played for AHL Rockford, the Blackhawks' affiliate, and notched 67 points (30 G, 37 A) and 22 penalty minutes in 74 games. The Minnesota native is now under a two-way contract with the Wild, where he almost assuredly will split time between the Wild and AHL Houston. Taffe is not an attractive fantasy option for the 2011-12 season.
Taffe was acquired from the Panthers and has been up-and-down between the NHL and the minors for several clubs since he was drafted by the Blues in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. If the Blackhawks are looking for some experience, Taffe could be their guy to fill out the roster.
Taffe is a classic tweener — too good for the AHL, not quite good enough for the NHL. The Panthers certainly don't have high hopes that he'll stick with the big club this season, but have brought him into the organization in case some of the team's prospects need more time to develop before contributing.
Taffe is a fourth liner with the Penguins who collected 12 points (5, 7) in 45 games last year. Nothing has changed in the interim and his stats line won't see any kind of appreciable change, either.
Taffe was a minus-7 in just 17 games with the Coyotes last year. He did score four goals and add two assists, but the 26-year-old former No. 1 pick has been a disappointment since being selected by St. Louis back in 2000. It's hard to see where Taffe fits in with the Pens.
He may play a lot of games, but he won't score a lot of points. His fantasy value is very small.
Taffe showed some flashes of brillance during the 03-04 season, his second year in the NHL. He will see less time at center this season with the signing of Boyd Devereaux, Petr Nedved, and with a full year of Mike Comrie.
