Grading the Chicago Blackhawks' Stars Through the First Few Games of 2014-15

It's a long season in the NHL, and one might operate under the theory that teams can easily make up for a slow start by turning things around at midseason and peaking for the playoffs.

That might sound workable, but getting off to a poor start in the NHL is never a good idea. When that happens, teams have to expend significant energy to get out of the hole before they can start climbing in the standings. 

The Blackhawks have started the season with a 2-0-1, improbably dropping an overtime game at home to the Calgary Flames Wednesday night.

In this piece, we look at five of the Blackhawks' star players and grade how they have done in the first three games of the season.

Center Jonathan Toews

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Stats: Three GP, zero goals, three assists, plus-one

Analysis: Jonathan Toews has not put the puck in the net yet, but that's nothing to worry about after three games. He is the captain, and when he is on his game, he appears to be the hardest-working and smartest-working player on the ice.

Nothing anyone has seen would make any serious NHL observer think there is anything wrong with Toews or his game early in the 2014-15 season. It probably bothers him quite a bit that he hasn't lit the lamp, but he can't be worried.

He is a dominant player who will score 30 goals, dominate in the faceoff circle and play stellar defense. So far, he has been fine. However, that's not good enough for Toews, and that's why his grade is low.

Grade: B-

Right Wing Patrick Kane

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Stats: Three GP, one goal, two assists, even plus-minus

Analysis: If there were a designated scorer position in hockey, Patrick Kane would fulfill that role for the Blackhawks. He is one of the most talented offensive players in the league, and he should be the team's leading goal scorer this season.

Kane put his skill on display in the opener when he scored the decisive goal in the shootout to give Chicago an opening-night victory at Dallas. He also scored a skillful goal against the Sabres in the home opener.

Kane's brilliant stick-handling allows him to make moves in the offensive zone that create scoring opportunities. He has shown that talent through the early part of the season.

There's no reason why Kane can't score 40 or more goals this season, and he appears sharp enough in the early going to make that happen.

Grade: B+

Left Wing Patrick Sharp

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Stats: Three GP, two goals, two assists, even plus-minus

Analysis: On another team, Patrick Sharp might be his team's top superstar.

He has an explosive burst that allows him to blow past the defensemen and fire his wicked wrist shot into the top corner of the net. He has been on top of his game early, scoring goals in the Blackhawks' first two games.

Sharp plays his game with a sense of confidence and relentlessness, and his demeanor almost never changes. He knows that the puck is going to find the back of the net eventually, and he never frets or panics if he goes though a series of games without scoring.

Sharp has appeared to be skating and playing at a very fast pace this year, and head coach Joel Quenneville needs him to keep it up. It looks like Sharp could be on his way to a dominant season from the way he has started.

Grade: B+

Defenseman Duncan Keith

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Stats: Three GP, two goals, one assist, minus-one

Analysis: The two-time Norris Trophy winner scored the first Blackhawks goal of the season when he fired a shot from the half-wall against the Dallas Stars that got through goalie Kari Lehtonen and gave the Blackhawks an early 1-0 lead despite being outplayed early on.

That opening game went into overtime, and Keith ended up playing more than 29 minutes. That means Quenneville obviously has great faith in his top defenseman, and Keith has certainly been playing up to that level.

Keith is a remarkable athlete who combines excellent skating, a high-level ability to carry the puck and responsible defensive play. 

Three games into the season, Keith has played fine offensive hockey, but his defensive play has not been up to his usual standards.

Grade: B-

Right Wing Marian Hossa

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Stats: Three GP, one goal, zero assists, plus-one

Analysis: Marian Hossa carries a heavy burden every time he steps on the ice.

He is such a remarkable athlete and gifted player that he is regularly expected to be the best player on the ice. Not necessarily by the media, but by his teammates and competitors who regularly marvel at his physical strength and ability to be in the right place at the right time.

Hossa's numbers don't always match up with his talent, but rest assured he is always making an important contribution to his team. If he doesn't hit the scoresheet, Hossa is playing picture-perfect defense or putting himself in the proper position in the offensive zone.

He scored a goal in the second game of the season against the Sabres, and he has had other chances to score in the early going. However, he hasn't been able to bury others, and his teammates have not been able to convert any passes into goals.

He is off to an ordinary start, but Hossa can be expected to upgrade his productivity very shortly based on his track record

Grade: C+