Kris Versteeg's Unexpected Scoring Spark Key to the Chicago Blackhawks' Surge

The Chicago Blackhawks came into training camp with a burning determination fueled by their loss to the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final last season.

That defeat was particularly painful, as it came in overtime of the seventh game on a shot from the Kings' Alec Martinez that deflected by Corey Crawford and brought down the curtain on Chicago's season.

Within moments, hours and days of that defeat, coaches and players started preparing for the 2014-15 season. Nobody associated with the team prepared with more determination than forward Kris Versteeg.

After being reacquired by the Blackhawks in a trade with the Florida Panthers (along with Philippe Lefebvre for forward Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Dylan Olsen) early in the 2013-14 season, Versteeg never displayed the form he had in the Blackhawks' 2010 championship run. He scored 20 goals and 44 points that year and contributed six goals and eight assists during the playoffs.

Last year, Versteeg was still recovering from 2013 ACL surgery, and he was also troubled by nagging injuries. As a result, his skating and overall play suffered.

But Versteeg was not discouraged, and as the weeks and months of the offseason moved along, Versteeg worked hard to regain his conditioning and practice his craft.

The results of his labor have been sweet for Versteeg and his team. As the Blackhawks prepare to play the Boston Bruins Thursday night, Versteeg is the third-leading scorer on the team with eight goals and 14 assists. He also has a team-high plus-14 rating, and four of his goals have come on the power play.

Blackhawks fans notice that Versteeg often goes directly to the front of the net even though he checks in at 5'11" and 183 pounds. He may not be one of the team's bigger players, but he's got the guts and desire to go to the dirty area, take the punishment and take advantage of the scoring opportunities that come his way.

The numbers are good, and his teammates have noticed his overall play and how well he's doing.

"I think he's better than ever, to be honest," Patrick Kane told Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com. "He's great with the puck, hanging onto the puck, good in battle areas, finding himself open, finding other players open. He's been awesome pretty much the whole year. It's fun to see." 

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Head coach Joel Quenneville has admired Versteeg's talent for several years. Versteeg played a key role during the Blackhawks' 2010 Stanley Cup championship that culminated with a six-game triumph over Philadelphia.

Even though Versteeg struggled last season after he came back to Chicago—he scored 10 goals and 19 assists in 63 games—Quenneville never lost faith in him. He is happy with Versteeg's production this season, and he believes he is capable of even more because of the talent he brings to the game.

Quenneville discussed this last week after the Blackhawks' 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues, according to Powers:

"

He has playmaking ability. When you look at the top guys in the league, Steeger can make plays like that, almost at that level where Kaner is. He sees and makes plays. You saw the saucer pass over to Kaner on the [game's final goal]. He can do those type of things. We don't encourage other guys trying that stuff, but he's able to.

"

When your coach compares you to one of the most skilled players in the league, that's a good thing for Versteeg. Quenneville is not usually given to overstatement, but it's clear that Versteeg is one of his favorite players.

Versteeg's talent is also keyed by his superb skating ability. He has plenty of speed, and that allows him to get into and out of tight spaces quickly. it's a big part of the reason he can go to the front of the net without taking all of the abuse that is associated with that part of the game. He moves into a tight spot, screens the goalie, deflects the shot or goes for the rebound and then gets out of dodge quickly.

Versteeg has been a strong and consistent contributor, as he plays on the same line with Kane and Brad Richards. There's no reason to think he won't set a new career-best mark by scoring 55 points or more if he can stay healthy from this point forward. Versteeg established his career high of 54 points with the Panthers in 2011-12.

Versteeg's scoring burst may have been unexpected at the start of the season, but he is now a vital part of the Blackhawks' game plan to get back to the championship at the end of the season.