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The first in a series of three evaluations (defense and goalies, coaches and GM to follow) this installment focuses really on the strength of the Blackhawks. Sure, they really need a legitimate second line center, if one can’t emerge from this pool. But otherwise, the Hawks have great depth upfront.

I think it can also be argued that in spite of the latter season and playoff emergence of Bryan Bickell and Michal Frolik, another power winger might be needed as well.



Patrick Kane
RW/C
$6.3 million

Shuffled back and forth between center and wing, Kane had a decent year. A little disappointing in terms of point production, but his best yet in terms of three-zone play, conditioning and consistency. He also showed that he can be a dangerous center in the NHL, if not a strong faceoff man. In spite of his improvement, maturity at times seems to still be an issue for Kane.

Grade B


Jonathan Toews
C
$6.3 million

Toews’ regular season was truncated by a concussion. But prior to that he could have been in the Hart Trophy discussion: a typical Toews season.

Grade A-


Marian Hossa
RW
$5.275 million

Hossa was the Hawks’ best player night in and night out. Before a midseason groin/hip injury (never publicized) slowed him down, he was also a Hart contender, and likely a more legitimate one than Toews. The possibly tragic way his season ended aside, Hossa had a great year.

Grade A


Patrick Sharp
LW/C
$3.9 million

Sharp’s production was inconsistent and he was not as strong defensively this season as he has been in years’ past. Still, he’s one of the NHL’s better left wings. I would also argue Sharp showed more physicality this season than ever.

Grade B-


Dave Bolland
C
$3.375 million

I thought Bolland had a decent season and most importantly, he was able to stay pretty much completely healthy throughout. Reflecting the team as a whole, his defensive numbers were not great, but his offensive numbers were quite good.

Grade B-


Michal Frolik
W
$2.33 million

After a terrific playoff series (for the second straight year), Frolik remains the Mystery of Madison Street. Often a ghost during the regular season, he was arguably the Hawks’ best forward in the playoffs. As is often the case with third line players, they have to be evaluated on what they do without the puck as much as with it, and in that regard, Frolik was not nearly as bad as his regular season numbers indicate. Still, I give him an A for the playoffs and a D for the regular season. And I ask: is it him, or is it the coaching staff, or is it more likely a measure of both?

Grade C-


Andrew Brunette
W
$2 million

Brunette was brought in to make the Hawks better around the net in the offensive zone. The thinking being that his hands and experience would make him more effective, at least there, than Troy Brouwer was. While Brunette had some moments, his lack of speed up and down the ice and really not being able to nail down a top 6 job all year, really hampered his season, likely his one and only in Chicago.

Grade D+


Brendan Morrison
C
$1.25 million


A midseason reclamation pickup, Morrison neither greatly impressed nor really disappointed. He was not bad in emergency duty in the playoffs.

Grade C


Marcus Kruger
C/LW
$900K

Perhaps a victim of overbuilt expectations (I’m looking at you, Stan Bowman), Kruger still had a very good rookie season. The question with the young Swede is not so much was he an effective 2nd line center in 2011-12 (which is highly debatable) but where does he project to in coming years? Kruger seems to be a lot like Dave Bolland—a defense first, penalty killing center. But he also has shown that he can possibly be more effective than Bolland playing with elite scoring wingers. Kruger is arguably the team’s second best passer behind Kane. Regardless, he must add strength and improve on faceoffs. Nonetheless, Kruger is a keeper.

Grade B-

Viktor Stalberg
RW
$875K

Some nights, he looked like Pavel Bure, others, Pavel Vorobiev (you remember him, the former Hawk 1st round draft pick who bore a striking resemblance to Prehistoric SpongeBob). Stalberg did rack up 22 goals and more often than not, especially down the stretch of the regular season, he was a force. However, in the playoffs, the Coyotes completely nullified him. Stalberg, like Frolik and perhaps Bryan Bickell, is one of those players the Hawks need to make an important decision on: have they seen enough to keep him around and try to continue developing him, or do they dangle him as trade bait right now while he would have some value?

Grade B-


Jimmy Hayes
RW
$875K

If you really needed any more reason not to re-up Brunette, Hayes is it. While Hayes might not be quite as strong on the puck as Brunette is, and is definitely not as nifty a passer, he skates better and finishes more checks. But if you want an NHL projection for hayes, it is a Brunette type player, arguably with a little more snarl to his game.


Grade: C+


Dan Carcillo
RW
$775K

Opinions are mixed on the former Flyers’ tough guy. One thing that is striking however is that Hawk coaches and players are much higher on the Bomb than most fans are. My take is Carcillo surprised me with how good a basic hockey player he can be. In some ways, he can bring what Brouwer did,: the ability to support more skilled players physically, create space and keep plays going. And he can hit and fight. With Carcillo, it all comes down to controlling his emotions and not taking dumb penalties.

Grade C


Andrew Shaw
C/W
$565K

What a find. Shaw became an overnight sensation in Chicago and won a lot of fans throughout the hockey world with his revelatory rookie season in Chicago. A decent to above average skater, on the small side, with at times surprising hands, Shaw does a lot of things pretty well. His heart and drive, however, make him a player you win with. Like Kruger, it remains to be seen where he will spend most of his NHL career, the second or third line. And like Carcillo to some extent, he needs to keep his emotions under control at key times.

Grade A-


Jamal Mayers
C/RW
$550K

The consummate teammate and tough guy, Mayers delivered all season for the Hawks. At 37, he seemed to tail off a bit down the stretch and was benched in the playoffs. But Mayers is a useful lower line center, penalty killer and tough guy.

Grade B+


Brandon Bollig
LW
$545K

Bollig quickly became a fan favorite for his work ethic and at times spectacular bouts with tough guys from various NHL teams. Bollig has a couple of rough edges to his game that he can still iron out to become an NHL regular. But although he possesses a deceptively strong wrist shot, he will likely be limited to a fourth line role.

Grade B


Bryan Bickell
W
$545K

Can we now say the light is officially on for #29? After a year and half of wondering when this guy was going to really arrive at the U.C., Bickell had a very strong second half of the season and playoffs.

Grade C+

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