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Rico Fata - #20
Position: C/RW
Shoots: Left
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Born: February 12, 1980
Age: 26 Years
Nationality: Canadian
Birthplace: Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario, Canada
Drafted: Calgary Flames,
1st round, 6th overall, 1998
Contract Particulars:
One-year contract
(Signed July 18, 2006)
Salary: $650,000 (2006-07)
Caps Corner Analysis:
An NHL journeyman, Rico Fata played for the Penguins, Baby Penguins, Thrashers and Capitals — in the 2005-06 season alone. Drafted with much fanfare at #6 overall by Calgary in 1998, Fata never lived up to expectations and was claimed by the Rangers on waivers in 2001. There he remained until dealt to Pittsburgh in 2003 in the eight-player Alexei Kovalev deal. Fata posted his best NHL season in 2003-4, playing 73 games for the Penguins and posting 34 points. He was a point-per-game player in Italy for Asiago HC during the lockout season, and then rejoined the Penguins in September 2005.
He lasted 20 games before Pittsburgh demoted him to WB/S for not producing, where he quickly regained his scoring touch. Atlanta claimed him off waivers on January 31, 2006, but he played only six games for the Thrashers before he was again on waivers. Atlanta demoted him and then recalled him on re-entry waivers to attract another team, at which point the Capitals claimed him. As a result, Washington is only responsible for half of Fata's remaining NHL salary this year.
Skill
Rico Fata is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL, coupled with good size. While he has fair hands in close, poor hockey instincts and vision have limited his effectiveness at the NHL level. He simply does not see the ice well, and has failed to hold more a third-line NHL roster spot as a result. Worrying for a player who brings limited offense, Fata's attention to defense is not always consistent.
Fata has a positive attitude and can be a serviceable energy-line player at an affordable salary, but teams that bring him into the fold must understand that his ability to chip in offense probably does not exceed 15 points a season with regular ice time.
Projection
On a team rife with reclamation projects, it would be a feel-good story for Fata to turn it around with the Caps. Fata fits the Caps' makeup in that he brings a good attitude, battles, and earns respect from teammates. The coaching staff, especially Glen Hanlon, also appears to like him. Yet his ice time and role is likely to be minimal. In something of a surprise, Fata made the Caps out of camp, though partially due to injuries. Yet he will remain on the bubble, in danger of going on waivers prior to a demotion to Hershey all season.
Contract Particulars
The Atlanta Thrashers exposed Fata to re-entry waivers in 2005-06, which meant that the Thrashers paid half of Fata's remaining 2005-06 $551,000 salary following Washington's claim at the March 2006 trade deadline.
Playing in the second year of a two-year, one-way contract, Fata became a RFA on July 1, 2006. At 110% of his 2005-06 salary, Washington tendered Fata a $606,100 qualifying offer. Fata rejected his qualifier, but immediately signed a new one-year contract that pays him $650,000 in 2006-07.
Under the CBA, Fata does not automatically qualify for a one-way contract, and the Caps have not revealed whether or not the team gave him a one-way or two-way deal.
|
NHL Salary (Career) |
|
Team |
Year |
Salary |
US$ Increase |
% Change |
|
CGY |
1998-99 |
$975,000 |
-- |
-- |
|
CGY/AHL |
1999-00 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
CGY/AHL |
2000-01 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
NYR |
2001-02 |
$1,072,500 |
-$97,500 |
110% |
|
PIT |
2002-03 |
$650,000 |
-$422,500 |
61% |
|
PIT |
2003-04 |
$715,000 |
$65,000 |
110% |
|
PIT |
2004-05 |
Lockout |
-- |
-- |
|
WAS |
2005-06 |
$551,000 |
-$164,000 |
77% |
|
WAS |
2006-07 |
$650,000 |
$99,000 |
118% |
Career statistics: HockeyDB.com
Updated: October 4, 2006
Brian Marshall
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