For Kris Versteeg, Calder Trophy Isn't Out of the Question

He may be overshadowed in Chicago. With a team that boasts the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Martin Havlat, and Brian Campbell, it's easy to see why. 

Kris Versteeg wasn't expected to produce big numbers this season. Surprise, surprise, though. The fifth-round pick in the 2004 entry draft has collected eight points in the Blackhawks' opening nine games.

Along with leading all rookies in points, Versteeg sits fourth on the Blackhawks team in point production thus far. He's seeing a significant amount of time on the power play and penalty kill.

During even-strength play, he joins Kane and Toews on the top line. Kane, last year's Calder Trophy winner, see's a lot of himself in Versteeg.

"He kind of reminds me of myself in a lot of ways, the way he plays—he slows it down, makes good passes," Kane told the Chicago Sun Times. "It would be awesome if the Calder goes back-to-back for the Blackhawks. I don't think it is expected of anyone this year, but he's probably the guy for us. If he can win the scoring, more power to him—and I think he can, playing with us."

The 22-year-old played just 13 games with Chicago last season. It appears as though he'll have full-time duty in the NHL this year. Still an unknown player to many, Versteeg is certainly benefiting from being under the radar.

Chicago's great offensive weapons that I mentioned earlier receive most of the attention from the opposing team's defense. The big question is whether or not Versteeg will be able to continue his production once he's more recognized.

"Skill-wise, he can play with Kane and Toews," Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon said. "It will come down to what he does when other teams start focusing on him. But why not? He's the right age. He has the skill, speed, and he doesn't back down from anyone."

It's not just Versteeg's numbers that jump out at you. Last weekend, in a matchup with the Red Wings, Chicago was shorthanded. Nickas Lidstrom was coming out of his zone with the puck, and the youngster just took right off his stick to get a breakaway.

Although he hit the crossbar and didn't score, the takeaway from Lidstrom alone is worth the praise. He made the Swede look like a rookie, and the Wings commentators said they had never seen Lidstrom lose the puck in his own end like that.

It didn't take new head coach Joel Quenneville long to realize that Versteeg was a great talent.

"From where he was at the start of the summer to today shows how much he's capable of," Quenneville told the Sun-Times. "He's a young kid with a good personality in the way he comes to the rink. He's got a lot of energy, good speed, good patience, and vision with the puck. And playing with two good players complements his game."

In the preseason, Versteeg scored three goals along with three assists in six matches. He's doing his part to show that he was no fluke.

"I didn't think about going back to the minors," he told the Sun-Times. "To some, me making the roster was a huge shock, but to me it wasn't a shock at all. I have a lot of confidence in my ability. I know what I can do, and I'm not shocked by my start or anything."

Going back to the minors seems like a joke now. All that remains is for him to prove that he will be a future star in the NHL.