Chicago Blackhawks: An extended look at the new guys
Andrew Shaw
Andrew Shaw has been part of the Chicago Blackhawks organization before. He won the Stanley Cup with them in 2013 and 2015. He was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens right when he was due for a big payday and they have now traded him right back. Lots of things have changed since Shaw has last played a game for the Blackhawks.
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Last time he played in Chicago, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith were still elite defensemen, stars like Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp were still there, and the Blackhawks were expected to at the very least be in the Western Conference Finals. Things are different now, and Shaw is going to be ready for it. It isn’t like the Montreal Canadiens were perennial contenders while he was there so he knows how to be on a hard-working hungry team.
He is the type of forward that can skate on every line. If he needed to spend some time with Kane, he could do it. Top line, he can do it. If he needs to muck it up on the fourth line, he can do it. Shaw is the definition of a Swiss army knife in the NHL and he has proven that.
He is coming off a career year in 2018-19. He had his best offensive season and it was a good sign because he had some injuries he dealt with in the year before. I think he would thrive on a second line with Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome, but that is ultimately up to the coaching staff. Shaw should be of some help on one of the two power-play units as well, he is a great net-front presence.