Bryan-Bickell

Chicago's Bryan Bickell (right), battling with Boston's Jaromir Jagr in the Stanley Cup playoffs, equaled his regular season goal total (nine) in the playoffs.

(The Associated Press)

(MLive.com periodically will profile a potential Detroit Red Wings free-agent target until the start of free agency on July 5).

Bryan Bickell

2012-13 team: Chicago

Position: Left wing

Height/Weight: 6-4/233

Age: 27

Shoots: Left

2012-13 stats: (regular season) 48 games, 9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points, plus-12 rating, 25 penalty minutes, averaged 12:48 in ice time; (playoffs) 23 games, 9 goals, 8 assists, 17 points, plus-11 rating, 14 penalty minutes, averaging 15:22 in ice time.

Career stats: (regular season) 220 games, 40 goals, 50 assists, 90 points, plus-19 rating, 120 penalty minutes; (playoffs) 38 games, 13 goals, 11 assists, 24 points, plus-17 rating, 20 penalty minutes.

2012-13 salary: $600,000.

Strengths: He emerged as a force in the playoffs, realizing some untapped offensive potential by equaling his regular season goal total (nine) in less than half the games. He has tremendous size, which he uses well in a net-front role and battling in the corners and along the boards. A physical player who led the team in hits during the regular season and the playoffs, he also is responsible defensively. A career third-line player who fit in well alongside high-end players on the top line.

Weaknesses: He has no track record as an impact player. Did he just get on a once-in-lifetime hot streak, or is this a sign of things to come? Some team is going to gamble that he is the real deal by giving him a lucrative contract.

Notable: Bickell played for two seasons under Red Wings assistant coach Bill Peters, when he was the head coach of the AHL Rockford IceHogs. … The Blackhawks' second-round pick in 2004 (41st overall), Bickell has played in more AHL games (228) than NHL games (220).

Why he would interest the Red Wings: They had Bickell on their radar long before he caught fire in the playoffs because of his size and untapped offensive potential. But, that was before the hockey world noticed what he is capable of doing, raising his value.

How he could fit in with the Red Wings: He'd be getting paid like a top-six forward, so that is where he would play, providing size, physical play, a net-front presence and secondary scoring.

What it might take to get him: Bickell's timing was impeccable. It's a thin free-agent market and big forwards who can score are always in demand. The Blackhawks want to keep him, but would have to dump salary to do so. Given his age, it wouldn't be surprising to see him get offers exceeding $4 million a season on a long-term contract.



Do you think Bickell's emergence in the playoffs has priced him out of the Red Wings' range? Do you think he's the real deal or just an ordinary player who got hot at the right time and benefited from a strong supporting cast?