Photo credit: Clydeorama

Keith Aucoin‘s call-up was a side effect of the Great Center Drought of 2012, that point in time when all of our centers were either dead, or wingers disguised as centers. Even when the Caps are in need, they don’t typically send for Aucoin, but they did this year — and to the surprise of most people, Aucoin became a regular player, even into the postseason. We liked this, because Aucoin is a good guy who has been in our system for a long time, and because we love to be surprised. Go, tiny Cap.

Cap Hit: $512.5 thousand. Aucoin is UFA this July.

Milestones: Played more then 20 NHL games in a season for the first time in since 2007-08, had his first-ever NHL playoffs point. Also, had his first baby.

Photo credit: Sweetest Hockey on Earth

Best Moment: Three-assist night against the Islanders. We hear he was so hot that night that he helped an old lady across the street later.

Things We Said About Keith Aucoin: “Please do not get stepped on.”

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

First Irrelevant Google Images Result:

Media Consensus: “We appreciate you more or less for what you are, but we would appreciate you more if you got off the power play.”

Alternate Universe Superhero Identity: The Coin

Spirit Animal: This mouse.

Team Role: Emergency depth player, Washington Capital when the Caps are in “whoever can stand gets a jersey” mode.

Execution of that Role: Much better than expected. Keith is subject to all those pieces of conventional hockey wisdom that say you can’t ride if you are not This Tall, but he did everything asked of him in his time with the Capitals, and did it better than many of those who would be his competitors for a jersey. In short, he stuck.

Postseason Performance: Aucoin was able to find some chemistry with Mike Knuble and Joel Ward on the fourth line, though he only contributed two assists throughout.

Beard Rating: Five out of ten.

Photo credit: Cheryl Nichols

As we have discovered in years past, Keith Aucoin’s facial hair basically does whatever it wants.

Likeliness to Return: Likeliness to return to the Caps’ system, seven out of ten. His contract expires this summer, but he’s been a star in Hershey for a long time and it’s likely they will try to hang onto him. Likeliness to return to the Caps…we’ll say three.

Usefulness in a Post-Apocalyptic Setting: Well, he seems to be awfully tough to squish — the cockroach of post-apocalyptic companions. Seven out of ten.

Other: Dear Hershey Bears: We are really sorry that we took your top-line center for the last third of the year, hope you weren’t using him, sucks to be a farm team sometimes. Love, RMNB

Overall Year-End Rating: Six Good Sashas.