Chicago Blackhawks: Brandon Bollig Fights—Is That What Team Needs Right Now?

Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Bollig has made an impression since joining the team last month. Sunday night in Chicago, Bollig made a definite impression on the face of Nashville's Jordan Tootoo.

A savage uppercut sent Tootoo to the ice and eventually to the dressing room, from which he did not return. The Nashville Predators went on to rout the 'Hawks, 6-1. This leads to the question of how useful Bollig has been to the Blackhawks since his recall February 28th.

Bollig has played in 12 games since bringing his pugilistic skills to Chicago. In that time, he has failed to make a dent on the scoreboard. However, he has made a dent or two to the heads of opponents.

There isn't a lot of pretense in what Bollig is in Chicago to do. He knows the score and has more than held up his end of the arrangement.

Bollig has seven fighting majors to his credit since joining the team. By way of comparison, John Scott has just five in his time this season with the 'Hawks and now the New York Rangers.

It helps that at 6'2" and 220 pounds, Bollig draws a bit more interest from dance partners than the gargantuan Scott. Nevertheless, Bollig hasn't turned down any invites to drop the gloves.

Bollig played 7:29 of the Nashville game, nearly matching the 7:32 he played in Columbus last Tuesday for his largest chunk of ice time. Bollig played just over three minutes against Vancouver the next night. Like Scott, he's has a number of games in which he has only made a cameo appearance.

Many of Bollig's fights are of the prearranged variety, as evidenced by a false start that transpired on the first period faceoff before getting down to business with Tootoo. On the other hand, the guy is here to fight and he fights. It's hard to criticize a guy when he's doing his job.

Chicago is 9-2-1 with Bollig on the fourth line, though it's difficult to make the argument that he has provided the primary spark in the 'Hawks recent run. Coach Joel Quenneville speaks highly of Bollig's ability to finish checks and ability when his gloves are on.

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"I like how he's playing, and I'm not talking about his fighting," Quenneville said to the Chicago Sun-Times. "Positionally, he's got an awareness. He brings us energy. He finishes hits, and technically he's doing the right things."

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It isn't a surprise that Quenneville would say such things after trumpeting Scott's limited abilities for almost two full seasons.

Bollig has inherited the enforcer role and the scrutiny that comes with it. Questions of whether Chicago needs what Bollig brings to the table at the price of the minutes piled onto the other forwards are certainly fair ones.

Bollig has been active with his fists and knows why he's here.

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“That (fighting)’s obviously the role I need to fill to stay at the level and to keep a job for years to come,” said Bollig. “I’m looking to make a name for myself, whether it be through fighting or hitting or whatever it may be.”

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Is that enough to keep him in the Indian head sweater?