Chicago Blackhawks Season Ending Grades: Forwards Part One
Now that the season has ended, and the lockers have been cleared out, we’ll look back at the season that was and grade the players on the 2010-11 Chicago Blackhawks.
In our first edition of the season grades, we looked at the Hawks’ goalies. In the second edition, we examined the defensemen.
We’re going to look back at the forwards from this season in two parts. In this first portion, we’ll look at the secondary forwards. The second forwards review we’ll look at the top forwards – in production, expectation and salary – on the roster from this past season.
The Blackhawks dealt with a number of injuries this year, and had a number of prospects asked to come up and fill in for veterans. Because of limited NHL exposure, we won’t be grading the performances of the following players:
- Jeremy Morin (9 gms)
- Marcus Krüger (7 gms)
- Ben Smith (6 gms)
- Ryan Potulny (3 gms)
- Rob Klinkhammer (1 gm)
- Evan Brophey (1 gm)
- Jeff Taffe (1 gm)
- Brandon Pirri (1 gm)
There was certainly a lot to like from some of these young players, especially Krüger, Smith and Morin. But because of the sample size, it wouldn’t be fair to evaluate their NHL performances this year.
Now, on to the grades.
Jack Skille: D
Skille posted seven goals and 10 assists in 49 games with the Blackhawks this year. He was a disappointment, though, and was traded to Florida.
John Scott: F+
Worthless. He fights, but does absolutely nothing else. In 40 games with the Blackhawks, he piled up 72 PIM and one point – and assist – while averaging barely six minutes per game. The second year of his contract is embarrassing. He gets the + added to the grade because he whipped a few tails, though.
Ryan Johnson: B
He did what the Hawks asked him to do: win faceoffs. Johnson only saw action in 34 games with Chicago during the regular season, posting one goal and five assists.
Fernando Pisani: F
He was brought in after an injury-filled season last year and, for some unknown reason, started the campaign in the Hawks’ top six. He effectively matriculated his way to the bottom of the roster, though, and didn’t see the ice in the postseason. In 60 games with the Hawks, he underwhelmed with seven goals and nine assists.
Michael Frolik: B
He struggled to score after initially being acquired in the Skille trade, but wound up with three goals and six assists in 28 regular season games. However, he showed a great deal of grit fighting for pucks in the corners and stepped into the faceoff circle on occasion, and will be a quality asset in the future. He was one of he most effective Hawks’ forwards in the postseason as well.
Viktor Stalberg: D+
Thought to be a player the Hawks were buying low in the trade that sent Kris Versteeg to Toronto, Stalberg bounced all over the lineup this year and failed to cement himself as anything better than a bottom-six forward. He did play in 77 regular season games, posting 12 goals and 12 assists, but was the definition of inconsistency.
Jake Dowell: C+
Much like Ryan Johnson, Dowell did a nice job of playing the roll he was asked to perform this season. However, he found himself in a battle for the fourth center position with Johnson and appeared to lose that competition as the postseason began.
Tomas Kopecky: B
Honestly, Kopecky played himself out of a job in Chicago. He established career bests in every statistical category and was effective in most of the roles he was asked to play this year. He had 15 goals, 27 assists and 13 power play points this year. However, he also boasted the worst plus-minus on the team at minus-13; only two other forwards that played over 50 games had negative ratings, and neither of them was worse than minus-two.
Bryan Bickell: B+
Bickell emerged in his true rookie season as someone Hawks fans can look forward to providing solid play in the coming year. He jumped to third on the team with 178 hits, and had a nearly 5-to-1 takeaway-giveaway ratio (34-7). His 17 goals and 20 assists were solid production from a guy making barely above the league minimum.
Troy Brouwer: B
Brouwer was on pace to have another 20-goal season when he missed the last couple weeks because of an injury. He finished the season with 17 goals and 19 assists, while ranking fifth in the NHL with 262 hits. As a restricted free agent, Brouwer would be a tough player for the Hawks to let go, but will undoubtedly draw interest from other teams.
Pisani did log 23:44 of ice time in the playoffs, though it was largely forgettable in Games 2, 3 and 7.
Do you think they bring back Dowell? Hard to explain how he dropped off like he did late in the season unless he was injured somehow. I thought he played real well the first four months.
I’m not sure if Bowman saw Bickell’s performance coming, but he was definitely a steal. Glad to see we have him for a couple more years at his cap.
I cannot even come close to agreeing with your scores for Bickell and Brower; they were both ‘far too’ – Bickell soft and Brower inconsistent, in my opinion. I’d say both were in the C, + or – range. If things fall in place with pursuit of other free agents and there’s $$ room for Kopecky, I’d like to see him back because of his versatility. I’m interested to see your scores for the top guys, especially PK.
I agree with Greg on his Bickell opinions. Bickell came out of the gates strong and than dissapeared. He also seemed to lose many corner battles by falling down or losing his balance. If your not gonna equate salary into Campbells’ contract than you shouldn’t boost Bickells’ because he is cheap.
@Greg – what part of a 5-to-1 takeaway-giveaway ratio, 178 hits and 17 goals from a rookie is C? And what part of Brouwer being in the top-five in the NHL in hits, but not being in the top five forwards on the Hawks in PIM makes him sloppy?
I think we both want one of the two/both to become an elite power forward. But they’re third-line guys. For the role they spent most of their time playing, they were solid players this year.
And no, Kopecky won’t be back.
As far as under performing forwards goes, Where the Hell was Marion Hossa? I realize he was hurt early in the season, but I did not see the drive, or intensity that he played with last year. What gives?