The Chicago Blackhawks are like the Blues Brothers trying to get the band back together. Situations with the salary cap and the Blackhawks have traded away some key pieces that have helped their team win a few Stanley Cups. Like Jake and Elwood Blues finding their musicians who have other jobs, the Blackhawks are doing the same thing. This time the Blackhawks acquire back Andrew Shaw who was traded to the Montreal Canadians in 2016 from Chicago. In an off-season, the Blackhawks desperately need defensive and goal tending help, with Cory Crawford a huge question mark. Other moves need to happen to fix those holes. Bringing back Andrew Shaw is a good move.

Andrew Shaw is that pesky forward every team needs. Originally a fifth round pick in 2011, he played five seasons in Chicago and helped the team win two Stanley cups. The Blackhawks are hoping and perhaps praying they can make it back to the playoffs as jobs could be on the line. Last time the Black hawks were in the playoffs, they were quickly dispatched by the Predators in a four game sweep. Bringing back an Andrew Shaw, who has 16 goals and 19 assists in 67 playoff games, can help your team in the playoffs. I still remember that big overtime goal he scored off his shin in game one of the 2013 finals versus Boston.

The Blackhawks have given up plenty to the Canadians for a playoff hero. Two picks in next year’s draft a 2nd and a 7th rounder. Plus another pick in 2021 which is a 3rd rounder. That is quite a lot for Shaw, however he is coming off a career year where he punched in 19 goals and had 28 assists for career highs. It seems like Shaw has been around a very long time, but he is only 27 years old compared to some of the other older guys on the roster with no trade clauses, His contract is salary cap friendly and they would have him more than one year.

The Blackhawks were a very high scoring team last season. Andrew Shaw will add more tallies because of his net presence in front of the net. He is that type of guy who treads water around the net, finds the rebound and puts the biscuit in the basket. He has that toughness the Blackhawks have been missing for years. He takes the punishment from the defense as he jumps on the rebounding pucks like a vulture. He’s a guy that can block the goalie’s view which can allow a screaming puck from long distance to whiz by the net commander’s glove. Andrew Shaw will also go blades of steel on any guy and throw down the gloves. He is a guy that can find redemption after one of your own guys getting hit in an unfair type of manner. Andrew Shaw does the small stuff and most of the dirty work like Dennis Rodman did on the court for the Bulls’ championships all those years. The dirty work has not been done all these years the Blackhawks have been home for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Will Shaw’s work be enough to lift this team back to that level of greatness? Probably not, as other moves will have to happen. Hopefully one good move will set off a chain reaction of great moves for this team in the off season.