If people know one thing about the Tampa Bay Barracuda, they know that the team gives up a lot of shots. Tampa Bay goalies are consistently among the league leaders in saves and goals allowed. It may be what prompted the Barracuda to trade for Taschen Messer from Montreal early in his career, and in recent seasons transform him from a mediocre right wing to one of the league's best bottom-6 centers. That may sound like damning with faint praise, but the fact is Taschen knows his role exactly and he does it very well. He has developed into an unconventional two-way forward who functions more like a third defenseman most of the time he's on the ice. His points totals will impress no one, but he is among the league's most fearless shot-blocking forwards. He does his best to help out Tampa Bay's defensemen and goalies by getting on the ice and putting himself between as many pucks and his own net as possible. He's become such a capable shot blocker at this point of his career that he's listed as the Barracuda's emergency goaltender should the need arise.