Promising Plans
All Blackhawks fans can admit that they were thoroughly embarrassed by Chicago's performance this year. The team's defense needed a lot of work and with lead goaltender Corey Crawford out with symptoms of vertigo, we depended a lot on a backup goalie that didn't have the skill we are used to having. But with Stan Bowman planning on fighting for new defensive players and goaltenders, there is a lot of potential for the 2018-2019 season. This season was the first time in roughly ten years that Chicago has missed the playoffs.
The Return of Scott Darling and Introduction of a New Star?
As part of a deal with Carolina, we could see the return of backup goalie Scott Darling, who wowed all of Chicago with his performance in the 2016-2017 season. General Manager Stan Bowman is reportedly discussing a trade that could get us the star goaltender back on the roster, along with first line defenseman Justin Faulk.
Darling struggled in his first season with the Hurricanes and did not show the skill that Chicago fans got to see. With a record of 13-21-7 and 3.18 goals against average and a .888 save percentage, he was not racking up the numbers he had been in the United Center. He signed a four year, $16.6 million contract with Carolina after being traded by Chicago at the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season.
Justin Faulk is a right-handed shot who makes $4.833 million annually. As a defenseman, he scored thirty-one points, including eight goals and twenty-three assists in seventy-six games. Typically, number twenty-seven averages fifteen goals per season. Faulk is also someone willing and able to fight, which Chicago seemed to be lacking at times.
Loss for Chicago
During the off-season, all Hawks fans were a little nervous to see the return of Brandon Saad, especially at the cost of star player Artemi Panarin who took a deal with the hopes of staying in Chicago. Saad delivered at the beginning of the season, as all players do. As the season progressed, though, we saw less and less of him. Saad finished the season with eighteen goals and only thirty-five points in eighty-two games this season. His scoring percentage also dropped from 11.8% to 7.6% in the transition from his final season in Columbus to his first season back with Chicago.
Discussions with Carolina could make Saad part of a winning trade for Chicago fans. As part of a two for one deal with the Hurricanes, who is one of Chicago's most frequent trade partners, we could lose the left-winger and gain the defense that the franchise needs.
Stan Bowman has also stated that if the right opportunity presents itself, they would be willing to give up their first top ten draft pick since the 2007 draft of Patrick Kane.
