None of Andrew Shaw’s previous teammates may conceal their pleasure in having him again.
Sure, Shaw is coming off top-of-the-line seasons of his profession. He recorded a career-high 47 factors final season and was one purpose away from matching his profession season-high of 20 — a mark he set with the Blackhawks throughout the 2013-14 season.
But what a lot of his teammates missed and are joyful to have again is the infectious vitality he brings on and off the ice.
“The season gets dragged out, you’re in some dark cities, [with] snow and weather and all that kind of stuff,” defenseman Brent Seabrook stated Friday throughout the crew’s annual conference. “And then a guy like Shawzy really brings that energy, that fire. He’s probably over my shoulder right now, poking me.”
Shaw returns to the Hawks as a extra mature and skilled model of the on-ice irritant that helped the Hawks seize Stanley Cup titles in 2013 and 2015.
But make no mistake about it: Even although he’s older and wiser, he hasn’t modified. He stated he’s nonetheless the identical man and can carry the identical noise within the locker room that he used to.
“I’m still going to have a lot of fun,” Shaw stated. “I’ll still annoy guys from time to time, but it’s all fun and games. I have grown up — I’m older, I’m married, I have a lovely daughter and she’s made me change even more. But I’m still the same guy.”
Jonathan Toews stated the Hawks understood what they have been dropping when the crew traded him to the Canadiens earlier than the 2016-17 season for 2 second-round picks.
Toews stated Shaw is the form of one who would run by a brick wall for his teammates, and offers management for the locker room.
“He’s one of those guys you love to have on your team,” Toews stated.
During the conference, Patrick Kane recalled a dialog he and Shaw had over dinner in Chicago earlier than Shaw was traded to the Hawks.
“I remember him saying to me, if he got traded to one place, he’d want to come back to Chicago,” Kane stated. “We’re fortunate it worked out and happy to have him back, because he is such a great kid and brings a lot on the ice, as well. His game’s getting better and better, too, and probably better than we’d last seen him here in Chicago. He’ll definitely be able to help us out.”
Shaw stated he stored up with the Hawks and all the time had a watch out for a way they have been doing, even whereas with the Canadiens.
He stated it was robust to see them go from perennial contenders to lacking the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Shaw stated the crew should recapture the success that they had when he was final on the crew and he thinks their offseason strikes will assist.
”They’ve made some nice strikes — getting more durable, grittier, stronger on the again finish,” Shaw stated. “I think everyone’s excited and [it] has that buzz feeling. I think everyone’s ready for the season to start.”