Let me start off by saying thank you to Billy for
letting me speak my opinion on this wonderful sports blog he has going. I am an
avid reader and enjoy hearing Billy’s perspective. I should also note that I
don’t believe that I am the best writer or the biggest Chicago Blackhawks fan
but I feel like I can give some solid input.
The Chicago Blackhawks came into the All Star
break posting a 29-15-6 record, good enough for 63 points and a tie for 3rd
place in the Central Division. The Hawks are coming off their first losing
month of the season and looked to rest up and prepare for the second half of
the season. But before we get ahead of ourselves let’s take a look back on how
we got to this point and grade (the teacher in me is coming out) the Men of
Four Feathers.
Forwards
(GP, G, A,
PTS, +/-)
Patrick
Kane
(50 11 30 41 9)
Patrick Kane started off the season hot but has
cooled off since the dreaded circus trip. He handles the puck very well and is
a straight up playmaker on the ice. He finds his linemates on every inch of the
ice and can really turn it on and take it up a notch, when he wants to. Looking
over some statistics I found it interesting that him and Patrick Sharp have
taken the same amount of shots but Kane posts a 7.0 shot percentage to Sharp’s
12.7%. Lets look for Kaner to start off the season hot and have a great second
half of the season.
Final
Grade- B
Jonathan
Toews
(49 27 23 50 17)
The Captain has been everything and more through
the first half of the season. He came into the break sharing second for the
most goals with 27 (18.2% shooting percetange), just five behind the leader,
Steven Stamkos. Captain Serious does more to help his team than just score
points. He is always in the right place and wins the majority of his faceoffs.
He suffered a wrist injury at the end of the break but will be in the lineup
against the Canucks tonight.
Final
Grade- A
Patrick
Sharp
(42 20 20 40 18)
Sharpy has had his ups and downs during the first
half of the season but may be the Blackhawks best pure shooter. He has just
turned 30 and also welcomed his first child into the world. Sharp injured his
wrist a couple weeks ago, which has left a big void at the center position for
the Hawks. He is back skating and lets hope for a 100% healthy return soon.
Final
Grade- B+
Marion
Hossa
(49 20 33 53 24)
Marion Hossa has been the best player with an
Indian Head on his chest. Hossa has quietly gone about his business and leads
the Hawks in assists and points with 33 and 53 respectively. He also holds a
very impressive +/- rating with a 24. He has been very valuable on the power
play and penalty kill as well. As we can see a healthy Marion Hossa can be very
dangerous and can get close to the century mark in points.
Final
Grade- A+
Viktor
Stalberg
(47 14 15 29 7)
Stalberg has to be the biggest surprise in a
Blackhawks uniform this year. Although he might not be averaging the same
amount of points as a Toews or Hossa he has been very consistent. He has had a
couple solid point streaks and has notched 5 game winners. Stalberg has come up
big with Sharp out and is on pace for his best season in his short NHL career.
Look for him to continue to produce if he stays on the top line.
Final
Grade- B+
Dave
Bolland
(46 15 11 26 -2)
Bolland, or as I like to call him, The Rat has
been in and out of the lineup because of injury. Bolland is not the flashiest
player but he knows his role. Coach Quenneville rolls him out against the opponent’s
top line every night and plays as a shutdown center. His +/- should be taken
for what it’s worth because of this. He
has also tallied three short-handed goals, which leads the team. If the rat can
stay healthy he will continue to play a big factor in piling up some W’s.
Final
Grade- B-
Andrew Brunette
(50 9 10 19 -10)
Perhaps I expected too much from Brunette since he
was the man who was suppose to replace Andrew Ladd. I was a very big Ladd fan
and I have not seen the same out of Brunette.
On the plus side, Brunette is very good along the boards and his hard
play can lead to some goals. The time off could be beneficial for this veteran
and hopefully he can get back to the way he has playing in October and
Novemeber.
Final
Grade- C+
Michael
Frolik
(47 5 8 13 -6)
Frolik has been cold all season but the
expectations have not been high. Frolik can’t buy a goal as of late but lets
hope he can get one that will boost his confidence.
Final
Grade- D+
Daniel
Carcillo
(28 2 9 11 10)
Before his injury Carcillo added some muscle to
the team. Yet he continued to plunge due to his poor decision-making.
Final
Grade- Incomplete
Marcus
Kruger
(40 3 8 11 -2)
After just playing 7 games for the Blackhawks last
year, the 21-year-old center has dressed 40 times for the Hawks. He doesn’t put
up great numbers but he is still young and is learning the NHL game. He missed
9 games with a concussion and hopefully that is not a reoccurring theme.
Final
Grade- C
Bryan
Bickell
(41 4 5 9 -7)
With Shaw (which we will get to soon) making a strong
case during his stint up in the NHL, Bickell’s roster spot could be in jeopardy
when Sharp returns. Bickell just doesn’t add much to the team and could be
spending his time in Rockford very soon.
Final
Grade- D
Jamal
Mayers
(50 3 6 9 0)
Mayers is your typical intimidator but he does play smart. He provides protection for the younger/smaller guys.
Final
Grade- B
Jimmy Hayes
(13 4 3 7 -1)
Recently sent back down to AHL since the arrival of newly
acquired Brendan Morrison. Hayes lit the lamp 4 times in his
short stint and was flying around the ice. Look for him to be a good Blackhawk
in the future.
Final Grade- Incomplete
Andrew Shaw
(11 5 2 7 1)
Shaw’s NHL debut started with a bang and was one
leg shy of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick (Goal, Assist, Fight). He dropped the
gloves on his second shift and later dented the twine. He has been a spark plug
for this team despite his small frame. The sample size is not big enough to
assign him a grade but hopefully he can keep this up.
Final
Grade- Incomplete
Ben Smith
13 2 0 2 -5
Ever since his electric performance in the
playoffs last year Smith hasn’t lived up to his expectations. He is a raw
talent and look for him to try to learn the game in the AHL.
Final
Grade- Incomplete
Defensemen
(GP, G, A,
PTS, +/-)
Duncan Keith
(47 3 24 27 14)
Keith has not been the same since winning the
Norris Trophy just two years ago but he continues to be the backbone of the
Blackhawks defensive corps. He gets his teammates involved and has been playing
solid in the defensive zone.
Final Grade-
B+
Nick Leddy
(50 2 23 25 -6)
Leddy has turned into a top four defensemen this
year. His experience last year proves to be valuable and is second for point
production for the defensemen behind Keith. He was supposed to fill shoes, err
skates of Brian Campbell. He handles the puck well and moves the puck on the
powerplay. His play has dipped the last month but should start playing like he
did in the beginning of the year.
Final
Grade-B
Seabrook
46 3 15 18
13
Seabs’ production has dipped in the offensive
categories but he is a very good compliment to Keith. This pair continues to be
a top pair throughout the NHL. Seabrook plays solid as a rock and as long as he
continues to play good defense I will be content.
Final
Grade- B-
Hjalmarsson
(50 1 9 10 7)
Hjalmarsson is a middle of the road defensemen and
does just enough to be an average player. Not good but not horrible.
Final
Grade- C
Montador
(47 5 8 13 2)
Montador was brought in to be a third pairing
defensemen and has done quite fine in that role. He is better than most 5th/6th
defensemen but doesn’t do much other than that. Knows his role and does his
job.
Final
Grade- B-
O’Donnell
(35 0 7 7 -3)
Not much here. Veteran who does his job and I’m
sure is a great piece in the locker room.
Final
Grade- C
Scott
(20 0 1 1 0)
Scott is a goon and I feel like the hot blonde
from the Shoot the Puck between intermissions could be just as effective.
Final
Grade- F
Goalies
(GP W L GAA
SV%) GAA=Goals against average
Corey
Crawford
(36 18
12 2.86 .902)
I would like to see the Crawford from last year
going in the playoffs and from October. Since then, his GAA is up and his save
percentage is down. Coach Q still gives Crawford the nod for the number 1
goaltender spot but he needs to start playing better.
Final
Grade- C
Ray Emery
(18 11
3 2.57 .907)
Ray Emery has been a pleasant surprise this
season. He is a solid backup, which leaves us fans not worrying so much when
Craw is not playing too well.
Final
Grade- B
Well that is all I have to add. Grades were given
based on the roles the players are playing. Lets start the season off right
with a win against the Vancouver Canucks tonight.
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