Your 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks (#10-#22)

I'm not ready to close the book on this amazing season just yet. So I figured I'd share my take on each player who contributed something of significance to the run, all 26 of em. I'll throw em up about 5 or 6 guys at a time, going through it numerically - starting with Keith and ending with Kane.

Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Today: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Part 4: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88

#10 – Patrick Sharp (C)

82 GP, 25 G, 41 A, +24, 18:07 ATOI

22 GP, 11 G, 11 A, +10, 17:51 ATOI

How do you not love this guy? There are talks that he might be available, but what a travesty it’d be if he left the Hawks. Sharp literally brings everything to the table. Leadership? Check – the guy wears an A, is (relatively) an elder statesmen, and is clearly someone everyone defers to in the lockerroom.

Goal-scoring? 36 a few years ago, 25 each of the past two seasons (including in only 60 games last year), and then 11 in the post-season? Oh yeah, this guy can light the lamp. Playmaking? Until this year he had only once broken 20 assists, and even then only had 26. But with Hossa along and everyone seemingly able to fill up the net, Sharp morphed into a playmaker, posting 41 assists. And he kept it up in the playoffs, posting another 11 helpers.

Defense? A few years ago he was one of the top short-handed goal scorers in hockey. He still kills penalties regularly and is considered a plus defender. In fact, he’s such a good defensive player he’s able to move around and play on any line, even the third and fourth, as he did for stretches late last season and into the playoffs.

Finally, how about his ability to thrive at both the wing and center? Need him to ride with Kane or Toews as a winger? Sure thing – he’ll profit from their skill and bury their chances. Need a guy to fill up the middle, hold his own in the circle, and allow Hossa to thrive? No problem – Sharp did that for most of the regular and post-season this year.

The fact is that this guy simply comes into work every day and asks his coach what’s needed of him. No matter what the answer is, Sharp goes out and delivers. When you combine his impressive numbers, great leadership, and those sort of intangibles, there’s no question this is a guy you can’t live without.

Toews, Kane, Hossa, and Keith are assuredly on that must-stay list. Sharp deserves to be there too.

#11 – John Madden (C)

79 GP, 10 G, 13 A, -2, 15:25 ATOI

22 GP, 1 G, 1 A, -2, 11:35 ATOI

I’m gonna give the Hawks front office a boatload of credit for this signing. No, not the specifics of getting an experienced checking line center with a Cup on his resume. To be honest, that need was pretty obvious – in fact, that’s exactly what the Hawks added at the trade deadline last year in the form of Pahlsson.

However, the credit I give the Hawks is in not waiting until the deadline to bring this guy into the mix. In baseball, you can plan on adding a piece at the deadline and have confidence they’ll slot into your lineup and clubhouse without much issue. But in hockey, that’s not really the case – the longer you skate with your teammates, the better you all play off one another.

Especially with a guy like Madden, you need to get him into the mix from Day 1 so that both he and the rest of the club can profit from one another. The Hawks players needed Madden around to learn from him, to follow his example, and to understand how best to play alongside him. The Hawks coaches needed him around to learn what he could and couldn’t do and how to fit his specific skills in with the rest of the club. And Madden needed to get comfortable and feel committed so he could call on every last ounce of extraordinary effort to help will this team over the top.

And that’s exactly what happened – Madden gave the Hawks a third line center all year when they really needed one, moved back to the fourth line when that was what was called for down the stretch, and throughout was outstanding at taking key defensive zone face-offs as a winger on Toews’ line.

Throw in what he assuredly meant to that lockerroom and how important he was to them down the stretch and through the playoffs, when the pressure was high and the challenges higher. On top of all that, he just was a good player. Good in the face-off circle, good in his own zone, good killing penalties, and even a solid offensive contributor when it was called for.

Madden won’t be back next year, but his Mary Poppins performance for the Hawks was something that will leave a lasting impact on the franchise.

#16 – Andrew Ladd (W)

82 GP, 17 G, 21 A, +2, 13:42 ATOI

19 GP, 3 G, 3 A, +4, 12:48 ATOI

Ladd was a former top five pick, someone with good size, skill, and movement. He came over in a trade for Tuomo Ruutu, another former top pick with all the tools. So the expectation, or at least hope, was that this young kid who already had a Cup on his resume would morph into a star in a new setting.

That’s not what happened, but not in a fully bad way. Instead of breaking out as a star, Ladd accepted what he could and couldn’t do and has become the Hawks most steady role player. Brouwer, Buff, Bolland, Versteeg – all of these guys have shown incredible flashes of greatness… followed by frustrating mistakes and disappearances.

The one constant? Ladd. Never flashly, always productive, it doesn’t matter who Ladd skates with, he gets the job done. He’s a tremendous fore-checker, rivaled only by the likes of Toews and Hossa in beating his man to get to a dumped puck in the corner. He’s a solid defender – not quite quick enough to get PK time, but the type who’s a real asset in your own zone in normal 5x5 play.

Ladd’s also got a surprisingly good playmaker streak, racking up 34 assists last year and another 21 this year. He can find the back of the net – 15 times last year, 17 this season. And Ladd does it while having spent the majority of his time in more of a checking line role. In fact, down the stretch and in the playoffs of each of the last two seasons, the team played its best hockey when Ladd was on the checking line, locking down the other team’s top forward line (alongside Bolland).

I can see Ladd being jettisoned – he’s got a boatload of value for what he’s done, what his resume is like, the size he brings. But as someone who doesn’t factor much into either the power play or penalty kill, he might be hard to justify giving much of a salary.

That’d be a real loss to the Hawks. No one has been steadier, no one does the little things better. Everyone knows you can’t have a team of stars – you need some grinders to support them. Well, the Hawks have no shortage in the star department. But they do need to make sure their support grinders can get it done, and Ladd has done it all since throwing on the Indian Head a few seasons ago.

#19 – Jonathan Toews (C)

76 GP, 25 G, 43 A, +22, 20:00 ATOI

22 GP, 7 G, 22 A, -1, 20:58 ATOI

Lord, what can I possibly say about this guy to really sum up what he means to this club? I guess I’ll go to Game 5. THE pivotal game in the series – if the Hawks lose, what chance do they have? All the momentum is with the Flyers heading back to Philly.

Toews has been scuffling all series after coming in as the league’s leading post-season scorer and on a franchise-best playoff points streak. So how did he answer the bell in Game 5? Come out absolutely flying, bringin every ounce of talent and skill he’s got and throwing it straight at the Flyers. It wasn’t just about what he produced, it was about the tone he set. Not just the attitude, but the play.

The Flyers were put on their heels and never quite recovered thanks in large part to the way Toews exploded out of the gates. Toews was juking and jiving his way through defenders on every shift in the first period, and it absolutely broke down the Flyers defense.

That entire first 20 minutes they were scrambling, seemingly short a guy or having played together for the first time in their lives. The result was a three goal lead the Hawks would never relinquish, which lead to a series lead they wouldn’t either.

The simple fact is that Toews is the complete package. He’s got all the physical tools, he’s busted his butt to develop all the necessary skills, and he ties it all in a bow with his unparalleled will to win. He showed it twice this year – first in the Olympics and then in the Cup. Jonathan Toews just simply decides that he will not lose, and then he doesn’t.

It’s that will that ultimately makes Toews a Hall of Famer if he can stay healthy. It’s that will that allows him to achieve those few things he hasn’t yet (league MVP, goal title, points champ, Team Canada Captain). It’s that will that that won’t allow his teammates to rest after just one title.

Just look at what he’s meant to Kane. I’ll delve more into it when I get to #88, but it’s my belief that Kane took a huge leap forward this year – not so much in numbers, but in the way he impacted the game. Toews’ influence was a significant factor – Kane himself has said as much – from the off-season work-outs to the demand to have the game in his hands when it mattered.

On top of all that, Toews is just a beast on the ice. He could be the best shut-down center in the league if that’s what was needed (see the Olympics). He’s incredible on the face-offs, both in his own end and setting teammates up in the offensive zone. Toews could score 50 goals some day… or pot 75 helpers. He can drive a line with his playmaking, be the finisher, or even just play the grind it out in the corners and in front of the net role.

In every single way, the Hawks could not have been more right in making this guy their Captain, a letter I think they expect him to wear for the next 15-20 years.

#22 – Troy Brouwer (W)

78 GP, 22 G, 18 A, +9, 16:22 ATOI

19 GP, 4 G, 4 A, -1, 11:01 ATOI

One of the many guys I wrote off too early, Brouwer game out of the gates like gangbusters this year, taking advantage of time with Toews and Kane to load up on goals. This was the exact opposite of last season, when he also was given that top line time, but had little to nothing to show for it. I figured he never would and was upset he was given so much prime ice time.

This year, Brouwer continued to bring the size, the grind, and the defensive skills. But now given those same goal-scoring opportunities, Brouwer suddenly was racking up points left and right. Brouwer became an outstanding compliment to Toews and Kane.

Brouwer’s year was not all hugs and kisses, though, as he went cold halfway through the season and struggled to get back on track. Things got so bad that he not only was pulled from any of the scoring lines, but eventually scratched all together. Finally word leaked out that his father was ailing and things came back into focus a bit.

Ultimately Brouwer would return to the lineup and pot a huge goal in the clincher against Vancouver. He also netted a key score against the Sharks in Game 2 and then a pair in the wild 6-5 opener over Philly. Brouwer’s 8 playoff points all came in his final 11 games after returning, suggesting that he had regained the offensive touch he showed in scoring 17 and assisting on another 12 before the calendar had turned to February.

In all, this year showed me a ton to like about Brouwer. Not just the revelation of his NHL-caliber scoring abilities, but the way he never let the scoring success get him off his hard-nosed style of play. And certainly the way he responded to adversity. Given the months long slump, answering the bell to the tune of 8 points in 11 hard-fought playoff games showed me Brouwer has what it takes to deal with the ups and downs the NHL will throw at you.

Please read on for more:

Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Today: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Part 4: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88