Monday, September 12, 2011

Jets All Out Top 25: #9 Eric Fehr

Eric Fehr, 26, Right Wing, 6'4, 210 lbs
Last Year's Rating: N/A This Year's Rating: #9 Difference: N/A

For Winkler, Manitoba native Eric Fehr, there may have been some bittersweet feelings when he was dealt from the powerhouse Washington Capitals to his home province Winnipeg Jets during the summer.

But he has embraced the new team, his old stomping grounds, and everything that the new team offers the city. Not only has Fehr been involved in everything from autograph sessions when the new Jets logo was released to being one of the four players in the jersey unveiling, he will be very heavily involved in the on-ice activities when the season begins October 9th.

Fehr has deep roots in Manitoba, not only being born and raised in Manitoba, but playing his junior hockey in Brandon with the Wheat Kings for four seasons from 2001-02 to 2004-05. After his second full season in Brandon, he was selected 18th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

He had a career year with Brandon in his last season, scoring 111 points (59 goals, 52 assists) in only 71 games, including 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 24 playoff games that year as Brandon lost the WHL Finals to the Kelowna Rockets in five games.

After his junior career, he spent the next three seasons bouncing between the Capitals and their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears. He had 53 points in 70 games in his first season with the Bears, and 41 points in 40 games in his second season in the AHL. His production showed that he was ready and in 2008-09, he was a permanent fixture in the Caps lineup.

Coming off an off-season where he saw his offensive production dip from a career year in 2009-10, Fehr still managed to put up 20 points (ten goals, 10 assists) in an injury-limited season of 52 games.

In 2009-10, Fehr had career highs in goals (21), assists (18), points (39), penalty minutes (24), and plus/minus rating (+18). He added four points in seven playoffs games when the President Trophy winning Capitals were upset by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.

Despite what happened and what didn't happen with a very heavily talented Capitals team in his three full seasons there, Fehr has learned what it takes to win - a hard work ethic along with skill.

In 230 NHL regular season games, all with Washington, Fehr has collected 46 goals, 47 assists for 93 points and 78 penalty minutes. Fehr brings limited playoff experience, but more than most on the Jets, with 26 games under his belt, in which he collected six points (five goals, one assist).

His presence on the ice is that of a 20 goal power forward, year in and year out. His production was only limited last season due to injury, but his true potential lies in scoring 20 goals with his large 6'4 frame.

One thing is for sure with Eric Fehr wearing a Jets uniform - he will be a hometown fan favourite.

And that is just what the Jets were looking for when they got him.

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