Chicago Blackhawks Overview and Overhaul, Part 2: Disecting the Defense

This is part two of a look at the Chicago Blackhawks as it was constructed for the 2010-11 season and how they may renew their quest for NHL supremacy.

In part one of this look at the team, I shared my thoughts on the Blackhawks' forwards.  Parts three and four will consist of a look in goal as well as at the talent coming up in the organization.

Let's turn our gaze to the players who manned the blueline this season.

The 'Hawks let Brent Sopel go last summer and signed Minnesota's John Scott.  Nick Boynton re-signed off of a decent showing in the finals, as was Jordan Hendry.

Chicago also was forced to match a four-year, $14 million offer sheet on Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Campbell suffered a sprained knee in the last week of camp, leading to this sextet opening the season:

Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook

Hjalmarsson-Nick Leddy

Hendry-Scott

Leddy was sent down after six games in favor of Jassen Cullimore, who with Boynton, saw much of the early season action on defense.   Campbell was back November 1, a much needed addition to the lineup.

Leddy replaced Cullimore in January, Boynton was claimed by the Flyers February 26 and Hendry's season ended the next day with a knee injury. 

Chris Campoli was picked up from Ottawa at the trade deadline.  Scott inherited Hendry's utility role and saw time at the blue line and at forward.

The defense opened the season in putrid fashion and slowly improved throughout the season.  It rarely approached the level of play seen the season before.

Here's a quick rundown of the players who comprised Chicago's defense this season:

Keith: Appeared disinterested and unmotivated for large portions of the season, possibly because he was disinterested and unmotivated for large portions of the season.  Pairing with Leddy at times kept him on his toes, but he was a far cry from the player who won the 2010 Norris Trophy.  However, he was busy, playing nearly 27 minutes a game.

Seabrook: Signed a five year extension in February and was second in minutes per game behind Keith.  He led Chicago defensemen in goals as well as assists.

Campbell: May have been our most consistent defenseman this season.  His return six weeks in turned the arrow around defensively.  His offensive numbers were down for the second straight season, but he led the team with a +28 plus/minus rating.

Hjalmarsson: Tried a little too hard to change his style of play in the early going, likely due to the new contract.  Settled down as the season wore on and was our primary shot blocker.  Seemed reluctant to take a big hit and had a hair trigger when getting the puck out of his zone.

Leddy: I think he would have been better served playing a full season in Rockford.  That said, he made progress and showed glimpses of the player he may develop into.  Needs to fill out a bit, but time and some off-season work should help.

Cullimore: The old man held down the fort when Campbell was out in a steady, but in unspectacular fashion. 

Hendry: Was scratched for most of the first three months, then paired with Leddy with promising results before tearing up his knee.  Also saw time at forward.

Boynton: Signed with the hope that he could hold down a spot as a minimum salary sixth or seventh defenseman, but that plan quickly unraveled with his spotty play.  Noteworthy achievements included dating Jen Patterson from Comcast (until they fired her) and colliding with and injuring Hossa in practice.

Scott: Probably the signing for which Stan Bowman catches the most heat.  Scott proved handy with his fists, but was an epic failure as the sixth, seventh or any defenseman.  This left a hole in the lineup that forced the club to scramble for an in-house solution in Cullimore and Leddy.

Campoli: For a guy that was obviously Plan B when the 'Hawks absolutely had to have a defenseman at the deadline, I was pretty happy with what we got.  He fit in well from a chemistry standpoint and wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty.  A full season with him in the lineup might have saved a lot of mileage on Keith, Seabrook and Campbell.

If Bowman is serious about bringing Campoli back next season, then it's possible that what we saw in Games 6 and 7 on the back end will be what the 'Hawks go to war with in October:

Keith-Seabrook

Campbell-Hjalmarsson

Campoli-Leddy

Unless...

1. Bowman doesn't resign Campoli and tries again to pick up a big, stay-at-home type (more like Hjalmarsson and Seabrook) that we really need to balance the pairings.

2. Bowman deals Hjalmarsson for more cap bucks to play with in other areas.  Of course, we now have to go out and bring in two cheaper versions of him.

3. Bowman gets someone to deal for Campbell.  This is unlikely.  Plus, losing Campbell weakens the defense considerably.

We have an abundance of offensive-minded puck movers in the organization (Keith, Campbell, Campoli, Leddy, Brian Connelly, Shawn Lalonde) and not a lot of guys who could be more physical and give us more bite on defense.

Ryan Stanton is probably the closest thing to what we need in the system right now.  Dylan Olsen is a year or two away at least.  Connelly is due a shot in the NHL, but he is a undersized puck-mover and we have plenty of those, thank you.

A more radical plan would be to sign Campoli to play on the third pairing, pick up a stay-home guy to play with him and have Leddy go to Rockford and play on the first pairing and special teams full-time.  However, it seems that management has ordained that Leddy learn on the job in the NHL, so that probably doesn't happen.

However the defensive six-pack is arranged, the 'Hawks are in need of a reserve who is capable of filling in.  Scott did not cut it in that role.

If the club signed Scott because he's a brawler and will come in occasionally to dispense justice/knuckles to those who deserve it, I understand.  He's not making big money.  If we have a full crew at defense and the Murderaurus is a pugilistic accessory to the organization, I can accept that.

If Scott has to be depended upon for even semi-regular service on the blue line, then we are not deep enough at the position to justify his existence on the roster.

Is Hendry willing to sign as that reserve?  He provided versatility on the bench, but was scratched so often that I can't see him returning for another year of being a spectator.  I was surprised the 'Hawks resigned him last summer and would be stunned if they did so again with as little as they let him play.

Ultimately, the chance to recharge both mentally and physically may just be the medicine the Blackhawks need in the off-season.  It is up to Bowman to decide if he stands pat or wheels and deals when it comes to the defense this summer.

Look for part three of this look at the Blackhawks coming soon.