Chicago Blackhawks: Stan Bowman's Acquisitions, Then and Now

Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman had high hopes for the skaters he brought into the fold last summer. Each free-agent signing and in-season pickup was designed to bolster the 'Hawks for a deep playoff run.

That didn't happen.

Following Chicago's second consecutive early playoff exit, Bowman will have decisions to make this summer. He has over two months of soul searching to do before dipping into the free-agent pool once again.

What becomes of the Bowman acquisitions of the 2011-12 season? Let's put each player under the magnifying glass. I'll share thoughts I had for these pickups at the time and discuss their possible futures with the team.

Steve Montador

Then:

"Montador is a pretty versatile, physical player who can play on the penalty kill.  He averaged nearly 20 minutes a game with the Sabres, so he should help cut down on the top line's minutes.

He'll clean up around the net, block shots and provide some hits alongside either Nick Leddy or Chris Campoli. Possessing a right-handed shot is also a plus.

Montador missed five games with a concussion in the 2010-11 season, but he's been healthy for most of his NHL career and is coming off of his best season.  This is the guy the 'Hawks would have loved to have had at the trade deadline a few months ago.  Now they have their man at a decent price.

"

Now: The concussion was a bad omen, as Montador missed most of the last two months with concussion symptoms. Before that, he totaled five points and nine assists in 52 games.

Montador was used for six minutes on the PK unit the entire season. Joel Quenneville instead used him at forward in select games and had him in front of the net on the power play. Based on the way he was used, Quenneville is still looking for that physical shot-blocker.

The season was a disappointment in terms of what I thought Montador could bring. However, you could make a case that Quenneville never gave him the opportunity to play to his strengths.

Montador still has three years remaining on a contract with a cap hit of $2.75 million. If healthy and utilized differently, he could still be an asset.

Andrew Brunette

Then:

"

Top-six wing, probably on the second line. Brunette is Bowman's replacement for the departed Troy Brouwer. Brunette is not the hitter Brouwer is, but the physical part of Brouwer's game will be addressed in several of Chicago's other signings.

Brunette had eight power-play goals last season, so expect him to see time there with Chicago.  He will get to the front of the net and finish.  He is a durable forward who has missed two games post-NHL lockout.

With guys like Jeremy Morin, Jimmy Hayes and Kyle Beach in Rockford, Brunette provides at least another season for them to develop.  This was Bowman's key signing on Friday—a durable veteran scorer who didn't break the bank. 

 

"

Now: Brunette's speed, or lack thereof, was questioned even as the ink was drying on his one-year, $2 million deal. He was durable, playing 78 games, but lacked in the scoring portion of my assessment.

Brunette went from 46 points with the Wild to a 27-point performance in Chicago. He played on the power play, with his four goals being half of what he mustered in Minnesota.

Brouwer was named an alternate captain this season in Washington and the Caps just knocked off Boston to advance to the second round. Brunette is probably mulling retirement. Regardless, don't expect him back.

Jamal Mayers

Then:

"

Fourth-line banger. Mayers has played for coach Joel Quenneville in St. Louis and brings the chippy element Bowman was looking for. Plays tough defense and knows his role.

He skates pretty well for a bottom-six forward, although he is getting up there in age. Low-risk signing. If he doesn't make the team, he can go to Rockford and toughen up the Ice Hogs.

"

Now: This was the signing that was arguably the biggest asset to the 'Hawks. It certainly was well worth the $550,000 flier Bowman took on the aging Mayers.

Mayers came in and did just what was asked of him. He provided toughness, scrapping ability and a 56.1 faceoff percentage. Six goals and nine assists were in line with his previous season in San Jose. If all Bowman's acquisitions had worked out as Mayers did, the 'Hawks are probably still in action right now.

Mayers played 81 regular-season games and the first two playoff contests before Quenneville inexplicably scratched him for the final four games. If there is a player I think Chicago will try to retain, it's Mayers. However, the way the season ended for the 37-year-old plants a few seeds of doubt.

Sean O'Donnell

Then:

"

Sixth or seventh defenseman. Possibly some insurance in case (Chris) Campoli isn't re-signed, though, he's a stay-at-home defender.  O'Donnell has a cup with the Ducks in 2007 and is a veteran leader.  He's a character guy in the locker room with a bit of a mean streak on the ice.

Another great depth move on the part of Bowman, and a guy that could mentor some of the younger defensemen (which would include everyone in comparison to O'Donnell, who turns 40 in August).

"

Now: The 'Hawks used O'Donnell in the fashion I believed they would. He played in 51 games as a third-pairing guy. He provided a little toughness and seven assists on the season. He wasn't fleet of foot and that bit Chicago on occasion.

If you thought O'Donnell was going to come in at age 40 and anchor the blue line, you were disappointed. As a seventh defenseman, however, he performed up to expectations for a player of that station.

Hopefully, Nick Leddy and Dylan Olsen spent some time under O'Donnell's learning tree. It's not likely he returns.

Daniel Carcillo

Then:

"

When he reins in the lunacy a bit, he can be physical and add to the offense.  Of course, last year's numbers with the Flyers (4 G, 2 A in 57 games) suggest that he can easily lose sight of the skills he does possess.

To me, this seems like a calculated risk. If Carcillo can get a handle on his emotions, he adds a lot to the fourth line.  If he isn't capable of fitting into the locker room, I'd imagine that Bowman will get him out of town quickly.

"

Now: Carcillo was as advertised in 28 games for the Blackhawks. He wound up playing a lot of top-six minutes and was good for 11 points (2 G, 9 A). Sure, he was goon-ish and played out of control, but you knew that was going to be the case.

Apparently, he did more than fit into the locker room. Bowman signed him for an additional two seasons even as Carbomb looks at rehabbing his injured knee.

You're either really on board with Carcillo's return or you're totally against it. This is a subject I'll expound upon later this spring.

"

 

"

Sami Lepisto

Then:

"

Lepisto, who signed a one-year, $750,000 contract, is a player of (Chris) Campoli's ilk.  In 70 games with Phoenix and Columbus in 2010-11, he had four goals, 12 assists and a plus-10 rating.  He's not an overly physical force in front of the net, but he does move the puck well.

Will Lepisto replace Brian Campbell's production?  Probably not, but the truth is that Campoli would also develop a few warts under the scrutiny of a full season of games.  Both guys are more than serviceable third-pairing defensemen who can skate 15-20 minutes a night.

For the price break, I'll take Lepisto.  Bowman retains nearly $2 million in extra cap room to use for a rainy day, and the 'Hawks get a young player looking to raise his value on a playoff-caliber team like the Blackhawks.

 

"

Now: Lepisto never had a chance in Chicago. He was fine as a sixth defenseman when he played, but that was for just 26 games, as Quenneville chose to scratch Lepisto most nights.

The way Lepisto was handled shows that Bowman and Quenneville aren't always on the same page when it comes to personnel. It's hard to believe Lepisto is in the Indian head sweater.

Of course, no one replaced Campbell, which is a big reason that the defense was less effective in 2011-12. The money Bowman saved with moves like Lepisto for Campoli was not utilized, either.

Ray Emery

Then:

"

I'm sure that a healthy, motivated Emery can be a more that capable backup to Corey Crawford. Healthy and motivated, he provides an option that may be more of a known commodity than Alexander Salak, who the 'Hawks have penciled in to that role.

Crawford's backup will likely appear in 15 to 20 games, provided he avoids any long-term injuries.  Emery showed that he is capable of filling in for an extended period of time and has playoff experience.

 

"

Now: Emery came to camp, got the backup job and signed a one-year contract. He was healthy enough to get into 34 games due to sophomore struggles for Crawford.

Emery was a solid backup and earned another year in the role, signing another one-year contract before the regular season ended.

Salak was sent to Rockford. There, he pouted, played badly, got hurt, took himself out of a game in Hamlilton, sat on the bench the last two months and is likely in Europe to stay. Yeah, I'm going to call this pickup a win for Bowman.

Rostislav Olesz

Then:

"

Largely seen as the price of shipping Brian Campbell's contract to Florida, it's difficult projecting what Chicago's plans for Olesz are. Coming off of knee surgery, it's possible Olesz isn't ready to play when camp opens.

Olesz has been projected as high as the second line, but he's also been the subject of buyout talk and may wind up in Rockford.

"

Now: Olesz began his time in the organization with a knee injury. At season's end, he had a knee injury. In between, it was a lost season for the veteran winger.

Olesz got into six games with the 'Hawks before clearing waivers and being sent to Rockford. He was a valuable member of the IceHogs and, at $3.25 million, a pricey one as well. I thought he handled what was a pretty lousy hand on his end with some class. Of course, he was well paid, but it had to be hard for an NHL-caliber player stuck in the AHL for salary reasons.

With three years remaining on his contract, his future is nearly as clouded as it was when he arrived in town. Buyout? Trade? Does Bowman bury him in Rockford, or can he help the team as a depth skater?

Brenden Morrison

Then:

"

Bowman had pulled off a low-risk move with the potential to help the team over the next few months. Morrison's health is a constant issue at this point of his career, but he was obtained for a player not considered a top prospect who didn't figure in Chicago's plans.

This isn't the top-six forward for whom the 'Hawks will still be searching in the coming weeks. However, the price was right to take a chance on Morrison. Bowman also hinted that Jonathan Toews would be ready to join the team after the All-Star break, so Morrison could begin providing some experience to the lower lines.

 

"

Now: Connelly was a second-team all-AHL selection this year, but he's still not a guy who would have had a shot at cracking the Chicago lineup.

Morrison had zero impact on the 'Hawks' problems at center. He did have a playoff goal that started the Game 4 comeback against Phoenix before the Coyotes won that game. That was about it. He'll be retiring or moving on.

Johnny Oduya

Then:

"

He should be sound defensively and can play big minutes if needed. He's also been around the block, which may lead to him adding some consistency to the blue line. If Joel Quenneville has the confidence in Oduya that he lacks in Sami Lepisto, the void left by Steve Montador's injury could be filled competently.

Campoli was more than serviceable for the Blackhawks last spring. Oduya could serve the 'Hawks in a similar capacity. For two high future draft picks, however, the price seems steep considering Bowman came up well short of his target.

 

"

Now: Oduya came in, played those minutes and added to the regular-season proceedings. The shine wore off by the playoffs, where he often looked like the player Winnipeg didn't mind parting with.

Oduya isn't top-four material on the back end despite seeing a lot of ice time. At a drastic pay cut from this year's $3 million salary, he could be a productive third-liner. Otherwise, the 'Hawks should let him walk.

Other Acquisitions

Bowman added players over the summer that didn't skate in Chicago but factored in further down in the organization. Here are a few words on two players who signed two-way deals.

Brandon Segal: Signed to provide AHL depth in Rockford, he was named the IceHogs captain. He held the C until being traded to Tampa Bay in February for AHL forward Matt Fornataro and future considerations. He played in 10 games with the Lightning this season.

Brett McLean: Was likely looking for one last NHL gig. Spent half the season in Rockford, then asked for his release so he could play in Europe.