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
Part 2: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Today: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88
#33 – DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN (W)
82 GP, 17 G, 17 A, -7, 16:25 ATOI
22 GP, 11 G, 5 A, -4, 16:16 ATOI
When I first started planning these out, I figured I’d have to touch a bit on whether Buff was worth keeping, maybe even make a whole post of it. But the off-season moves pretty damn quickly, and now Buff is nothing more than a freakin sweet ass memory. And really, with the assumption that Versteeg will be gone too, it’s not even a debatable issue any more – the choice seemed to be a matter of Sharp, Bolland, Versteeg, or Buff – pick two. Well, they clearly picked the right two in Bolland and Sharp.
One final stay-or-go thought on Buff that I’m bothered I didn’t make in my post on the deal – Buff is only signed for one more year before he becomes an RFA. The Hawks would have still controlled his rights, but if he had as great of a season as some people are figuring on, or even just another great post-season run, the Hawks would have had to get rid of him next off-season anyway. So when you consider that Sharp and Versteeg each have two years left and Bolland four, it’s again clear why Buff had to go.
But this post is about looking back, and lord what a ride Buff has been. And not just this year, but go all the way back to 07-08. Just as the Hawks are breaking out as a franchise, so is Buff as a player. Finally starting to get comfortable as a power forward after years as a blueliner, Buff pots 19 goals in only 67 games and looks primed to take things to the next level.
But 08-09 is a bit of a disappointment, as the rest of the Hawks progress while Buff takes a step back. Despite playing in 77 contests, Buff manages only 15 goals and sees his ice time reduced from 17 minutes to 15.
The playoffs start… and again Buff disappears. Five games, one assist. Then, in Game 6 against Calgary, Buff explodes for a goal and two helpers. And now Vancouver comes to town… and Buff disappears again. You don’t remember that, do you? Everyone talks about how he owns Vancouver, but in the first four games of that series, Buff had no points. Sure he might have been working hard along the boards and being a big pain in front of the net, but that’s not how legends are made.
In fact, from what I can tell, Buff’s legend against Vancouver stems from a single 2-goal performance in Game 5. A crucial game, no question, and Buff’s two goals are monsters, making him the #1 start of the game. But in the 7 goal outburst that is Game 6, Buff manages just an assist. In five games against Detroit, he has only two assists.
Total playoff stat line in 08-09 – 17 GP, 3 G, 6 A. Not bad, but nothing too impressive. And kinda makes this season’s regular season performance make a bit more sense – Buff hadn’t broken out so much in the playoffs, he just had a few noteworthy games, as he always does, while mostly just being there.
There was a mild step up in the regular season, as he did get back to 17 goals despite playing the final few weeks back on D. But there’s no question Buff had still yet to come near the tantalizing promise he showed. 6-3, 246 and able to both skate and work the puck – the sky was the limit.
But Buff did find a bit of a value for himself in the regular season, thanks to his ability and willingness to skate on the blueline. He was an able performer back there, allowing the Hawks to get through a tough time and right the ship in time for the playoffs, even working a few games on the blueline in the opening post-season series. But still, eight games into the playoffs, including two against his supposed rival Canucks, and Buff didn’t have a single goal, nor even a single point.
And then the light went on. A hat trick in Game 3 sparks the Hawks to back-to-back road victories and a commanding 3-1 series lead. A goal and an assist in the deciding Game 6 starts a string of five straight games – including every single one against the Sharks – with a goal for Big Buff. Then, after being shut-out all series, Buff explodes for two goals and two assists in the pivotal Game 5 against the Flyers and buries another crucial score in the deciding Game 6.
Total – 11 goals in the final 14 games of the playoffs. Now that’s where Buff’s playoff legend was made. Don’t tell me how important he was in 08-09 – he really wasn’t. Sure Buff might have done a lot of little things, but you can always find guys for the little things. His value as a post-season performer was only established this year, with that incredible run that began in Game 3 in Vancouver.
In seeing all that, I’m just as confused as ever about Buff. His 08-09 performance, hell, even the first 8 games of this postseason (yes, he did skate the blueline in a number of them) and the first four of the Finals, don’t give me a ton of faith that you can count on Buff every time out.
But that stretch against the Canucks and Sharks, that finish against the Flyers – yep, there’s no question when he does show up, Buff is going to make a major difference. His impact is as big as anyone’s… when he decides to bring it all.
I’ll always love Buff for his heroics. He was a key cog to this title that we couldn’t have lived without. And I’ll eat crow there – I would have dumped this guy for prospects at the trade deadline and tried harder to shore up the blueline (as I was also no Sopel fan at that point).
Instead, the Hawks hung on to him and not only got even more prospects and salary relief when they finally did trade him, but also were able to call on Buff when the blueline desperately needed him, and then call on him again to break open the Canucks series, keep the Sharks from ever getting into it, and bury the Flyers.
So yeah, Buff will have a special place in my heart and Blackhawk lore. But I can’t help but see all those countless games he disappeared in – including many in the postseason, when he supposedly thrives – and decide that the front office made the right move selling high. Buff will be missed, but less so than the other guys they kept in his place.
#36 – DAVE BOLLAND (C)
39 GP, 6 G, 10 A, +5, 17:22 ATOI
22 GP, 8 G, 8 A, +6, 18:40 ATOI
Coming in off a great 08-09 where he not only established himself as a legit NHL centerman, but one with #2 scoring line capabilities, Bolland was given the gift of Marian Hossa last off-season. Cruelly, that gift would be taken away a few weeks later when it was announced that Hossa would miss the first 20-30 games of the season. Making things worse, Bolland’s own health issues flared up a few weeks into the season, sidelining him for months.
So it wasn’t until late in the season that Bolland finally was matched with Hossa on the second line. But the chemistry never quite worked. Maybe they didn’t fit together, maybe they didn’t find the proper third to make it all go, and maybe it was just a matter of not having a proper off-season, pre-season, and regular season to figure it all out.
Either way, the Hawks would eventually move Bolland back to the third line role he thrived at in 08-09 and put Sharp as Hossa’s center on the second line. The regular season ended with respectable but unimpressive numbers from Bolland and the playoffs started much the same way. Bolland did get the game-winner in Game 2, but for the most part, his Nashville series was more of the same – respectable but unimpressive.
And then the Sedins rolled into town, with one fresh off a points title and both looking as dangerous as ever. But Bolland, with a huge helping hand from Keith and Seabrook, made them look inconsequential. JQ loves his shutdown centers, getting the Hawks to add Pahlsson last year and Madden this off-season. But while Bolland might not have made the cut as a scoring line center, he apparently earned JQ’s love as a checking line one.
As he should have. Every time the Twins went over the boards, so too did Bolland. He logged huge amounts of ice time and was an absolute force in his own zone. And Bolland didn’t stop with the Swedes – he made the Team Canada line of the Sharks look just as docile. No better image of Bolland’s great work exists than Thornton frustratingly slashing Bolland’s arm in a late game face-off. The Finals? No different, as Richards, Gagne, and Carter were shadows of themselves, rarely making any impact.
Will Bolland ever become the #2 center the Hawks wish he could be? Maybe – in the playoffs, where scoring is tougher to come by, Bolland did net 8 goals and assist on 8 more, despite playing a checking line role. He’s still only 24 – Bolland may just find that scoring touch if put with the proper wingers (he sure did load up on points when he was with Havlat in 08-09).
But I’d be just fine with him as one of the best checking line centers in hockey. Bolland helps brings offense to that line, ensuring a deep, dynamic scoring attack. More importantly, he’s as good shutting down opposing top lines as anyone I’ve ever seen – and he’s got the Cup to prove it. Bolland even showed that pest streak – the ability to get under the opposition’s skin – such a crucial aspect of the shut-down role.
With four more years in his current contract, I’m damn glad to have this guy in the Indian Head sweater for a while longer. Ideally I’d like to see him stay as a plus checking line center, but I wouldn’t mind if the Hawks try again to see if he can make it work as a #2 scoring line pivot.
#37 – ADAM BURISH (W)
13 GP, 1 G, 3 A, +2, 8:46 ATOI
15 GP, 0 G, 0 A, -1, 5:35 ATOI
Burish didn’t have the season he would have liked to, personally. An injury robbed him of almost the entire regular season and didn’t give him the time to get back into any significant role. He did skate in a good amount of games in the post-season and did fulfill a key role – bringing a bit of energy and tenacity when needed. But last season Burish was a crucial 4th liner and a guy who did a great job killing penalties. This year he was a token 4th liner, barely registering 5 minutes a game.
What does the future hold for Burish? Who can tell. This year was in large part a throwaway. But he’s still young (27), he’s still a plus skater for a 4th line energy guy, and he still is a capable penalty killer. Throw in the grit he brings, the fact that he’ll drop the gloves, and the pest role he fulfills so well, and Burish has his value.
The question is how much value… i.e. how much is some team going to want to pay him? You could see Burish coming back at a pretty low salary just to stick with the Hawks and be in Chicago. With some of the losses the Hawks have endured, Burish could return to a more prominent 4th line and PK role. But he may also be just attractive enough that some team wants his experience and intangibles and pays him enough to price the Hawks out.
If so, it’ll be a loss to the Hawks. While they most certainly can live without him (as they showed for most of this season and most of the playoffs), Burish had his value. And as the team gets thinner in frontline talent due to the cap, it’s these kind of cheap grindy types that need to pick up the slack. It’ll be unfortunate if Burish isn’t one of the guys around to do so.
#39 – CRISTOBAL HUET (G)
48 GP, 26 W, 14 L, .895 SV%, 2.50 GAA
1 GP, 0 W, 0 L, 1.000 SV%, 0.00 GAA
Obviously signing this guy to that contract was a mistake on a lot of levels. But I’m gonna argue that it won’t be a regrettable one if the Hawks front office (actually, more likely its ownership) agree to eat the remainder of his contract and ship him off to somewhere in Europe or the AHL.
As it stands now, the Hawks have lost nothing by giving Huet that money. They didn’t lose any players these past two years because of the cap or finances and they weren’t gonna spend that money on someone else who was going to be around moving forward, as they already are overspent for the future.
And in the future, if the Hawks eat the contract, Huet has no negative effect on them – it’s like his contract doesn’t exist, cap-wise. The only losers are the Wirtz, who have to foot the bill (as they still are required to pay the actual money owed).
But I don’t think even the Wirtz lost. I think Huet was a key contributor to the team in 08-09. I think he was important to allowing that team to get the #4 seed and to eventually make it to the Western Conference Finals. And I know that experience was crucial for their confidence and know-how this year.
Huet played well in his half of the games in 08-09, when Khabi was either hurt or incapable of carrying the every night load. He won 20 games, had a 2.53 GAA and .909 save percentage. Those are all good numbers and they were key to helping the Hawks break through to that upper level of Western Conference teams.
But more importantly, Huet allowed JQ to rest Khabi and to have a respectable goaltender for the numerous times Khabi was hurt that year. That allowed the team to remain on its rolls and more importantly, for Khabi to be fresh come the playoffs. Given that Khabi would eventually break down in the Western Conference Finals (and take our season with him), if Huet wasn’t there to keep him fresh, I don’t see the Hawks having beaten both Vancouver and Calgary.
I also think Huet was a key contributor to the team getting the #2 seed this season and being in a place to succeed in the playoffs. Huet was crucial in getting the Hawks off to a great start and establishing a ton of confidence in themselves. He also was important in allowing Niemi to be brought along slowly without any pressure or expectations. I do not believe Niemi could have done as well had he been the #1 from the get go, or even been battling for a #1 spot with some other goalie. Only because Huet was there to carry the main burden was Niemi able to get acclimated to the league and establish some confidence in himself.
Finally, Huet deserves credit for stepping aside gracefully and never adding to the media- and fan-inspired circus that surrounded the goalie position. For such a high paid veteran who had done so much in his career (really – Huet has had a number of very good seasons), he could have complained publicly about his treatment (even if it was deserved), but he didn’t.
So yeah, Huet did not warrant that huge contract. And yeah, he’s got to be farmed out now and erased from the books. But given the fact that the Hawks won the Cup and that Huet played a crucial role in the steps leading up to that run, I’m not gonna regret that signing. Who knows what would have happened had we passed on Huet? But I do know what happened after we signed him.
#46 – COLIN FRASER (C)
70 GP, 7 G, 12 A, +6, 9:36 ATOI
3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, +0, 8:24 ATOI
Another guy who has since parted ways with the Hawks, I’ll be mildly sad to see him go. Fraser barely dented the post-season roster these past two years, playing in only 5 games total. But during the regular season of both seasons Fraser was a capable 4th line centerman, maybe a bit worse in the face-off circle than he should have been, but getting better (from a 47.8 to a 48.8 this year).
Fraser was solid on the penalty kill, had a decent scoring touch, and certainly busted his butt and got his nose dirty whenever needed. Although Fraser didn’t contribute a lot, he did help us get into the position we needed in the regular season to make the runs we did these past two seasons. And now his name is etched on the Cup forever, and therefore etched in the hearts of Hawk fans forever.
I wish him the best in Edmonton – a great landing spot. The team is bad, but that means a chance for some real PT. Fraser could establish himself as a nice 4th line centerman and penalty killer, with the upside to be a respectable checking line center some day (he still is only 25). Regardless, Fraser will hold a special place, not just for his overall contributions, but specifically for the way he helped spark a 4th line to an incredible scoring barrage in the last few weeks of the season. That barrage helped the team recover from their March swoon in time to handle the very pesky Preds in a tough first round series. For that, Fraser proudly earned his ring.
Please check back again for the final installation:
Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Part 2: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Today: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88
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