In the movie Slap Shot, Dave “the Killer” Carlson was a scrappy player for the Charlestown Chiefs. The Blackhawks had their own “Killer” version for years in Andrew Shaw. An underdog that was told he was too short to play with the big dogs on the ice. However, this underdog shone and played out of his mind, and his 5′ 11″ frame, at 182 lbs. Shaw challenged the tough guys on the ice, just like Killer Carlson for the Chiefs in the Federal league. Shaw was like David versus Goliath on Ice, if the icecapades had that type of theatre. Shaw was a grinder and brought lots of energy to the rink each night. Shaw was the guy that could be a pest. He would get in the opponent’s head as he did all the little things on the ice, the grunt work, especially around the net. Like Dennis Rodman with the Bulls or AJ Pierzynski with the White Sox. That’s who I compare Andrew Shaw to in other sports. Shaw plays each game in overdrive where there is no switch to slow him down except multiple concussions adding up. His mind still had enough sense to finally hang up the skates for good. Ten years in the league, and Andrew Shaw says his good byes to the sport he grew up on in his home country of Canada. Probably his first Christmas gift from Santa Clause was a hockey stick while his baby teeth blossomed some day to be knocked out by some other Canadian tyke.

Andrew Shaw was drafted in the 5th round of the 2011 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, which was the 139th overall pick that year. Shaw played for Blackhawks 7 seasons out of the 10 he played. Shaw was traded to the Montreal Canadiens where he played three seasons. The Blackhawks ended up getting Shaw back with another trade that brought good ole 65 back to the Blackhawks. Shaw in ten years has tallied up 116 career goals in regular season with 131 assists for 247 points. Seven seasons in Chicago the numbers Shaw put up was 75 goals, 76 assists that totals 151 points. In the three seasons in Montreal Shaw was productive with 41 goals 55 assists for 96 points. Shaw is also credited with over thousand hits in his ten seasons on the ice working the trenches of the net. In post-season, Shaw tallied 16 goals with 19 assists for 35 points. Shaw was a part of two Stanley Cup winners with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015. Plus all the small things Shaw did that don’t show up on the stat sheet each night. Pretty good stats for an underdog.

After 500 games in regular season and add post-season games as well, concussions added up and eventually would be what wiped out Andrew Shaw’s hockey career. A career that ends at 29 years old. The writing was on the wall when two seasons ago he missed the final 12 games of regular season for the Canadiens due to the concussion. Last season Shaw missed 44 games for the Blackhawks. Same thing… concussions. After 14 games this season with 2 goals & 2 assists which totals to 4 points on February 11th, Shaw was in concussion protocol. Eventually placed on long term reserve which basically ends your season. Playing the game bigger than what you actually are, can create havoc on the body. The hits you dish out most likely you get back in some way down at the other end of the ice. Being like a vulture and pecking your way around the crease of the goal night after night to find the loose puck. This means the opponents are not giving you a high five in the scrum around the net. Unfortunately, they call it dirty work for that reason, trying to slap the puck in the net in the middle of mosh pit type of work place.

The goal Andrew Shaw head butted in the net versus the Ducks in the 2015 Western Conference finals, in game two, was my favorite memory of 65. The goal was disallowed though, but watching it over and over was priceless.

Way to bring soccer to the ice. Shaw played hard all the time and rose to the occasion in the Stanley Cup finals in 2015. He had a three game streak with a point in each contest, which was a goal and two assists. The first player Shaw told he was hanging up the skates for good, was Brent Seabrook who retired weeks ago from a long list of nagging injuries he suffered over the years. Let’s not forget goalie Corey Crawford walking away from the New Jersey Devils contract he signed in the off-season. Crawford never played one game with the Devils. Crawford dealt with multiple concussions over the last few years and seemed to spend more time off the ice than on.. With Crawford, Seabrook, and now Shaw, those are three cogs that made the Blackhawk dynasty wheels roll over the opponent for years. Shaw was a guy well liked by all his teammates and the entire Blackhawk organization. Because he was a Killer Carlson who took his game to another level and play out of his body size. Shaw, like Killer, had the heart of the lion and treated everyone close to him like family which in sports is a recipe for success. Sometimes the success does not last that long. Ten years is impressive. Andrew Shaw is one of my favorite Blackhawks from that 3 cup dynasty. Shaw reminds me of the Rocky movies. A guy that finally got his chance to play the game he loved and did all he could to be the best he could be. Seized the opportunity. Sounds like an Army recruiting slogan. Andrew Shaw might be the best to wear the #65 in Chicago Sports history. A guy that does not need to buy his own drink in Chicago ever for what he did for the city and the Indian head on the sweater. Shaw will be missed, but hopefully the Blackhawks can bring him back with another job as part of the organization.