For the Chicago Blackhawks, what's old is new again ... again.
On the heels of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Nashville Predators in the first round of last season's playoffs, general manager Stan Bowman promised significant change, but ironically, he's employed a familiar strategy by bringing back old members of the Blackhawks' dynastic success.
He's previously tried the method at the 2016 trade deadline, going all in by acquiring Andrew Ladd. Bowman did it again by signing Brian Campbell to a team-friendly deal last offseason, and again by orchestrating a reunion with Johnny Oduya before the 2017 playoff push.
Now, after altering the makeup of the Blackhawks' roster via trades and free agency, Bowman has brought in more familiar faces, welcoming Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp - two key cogs in the club's championship years - back to the team.
Although previous trips down memory lane haven't yielded much success for Bowman and the Blackhawks, there's reason to believe this summer's key moves warrant a different result.
The signings of Sharp and acquisition of Saad - although the latter came at the price of shipping off dynamic winger Artemi Panarin - address one of Chicago's biggest issues from a season ago: forward depth. The recent additions should solidify an offense that went stagnant when it mattered most.
With Sharp in the fold, Chicago can expand its attack, instead of relying so heavily on Patrick Kane to create the majority of the club's offense. Sharp endured an arduous season with the Dallas Stars in 2016-17, limited to just 48 games because of two concussions and hip surgery. In spite of this, the veteran forward showed glimpses of promise.
Sharp generated just over three shots on goal per game last season, but owned a career-low shooting percentage of 5.5 percent. Based on his career numbers, it's hard to believe that trend will continue should he stay healthy.
Now 35, Sharp is just one season removed from a 55-point campaign, and with a career production rate of 0.68 points per game, Chicago should benefit from his offensive flair, which comes at a cost of just $800,000 (plus another $200,000 in bonuses). His presence should also help fill the void left behind by Marian Hossa at both ends of the ice.
In Saad, the Blackhawks get a player back who they never wanted to get rid of in the first place. Feeling the pressure of an impending offer sheet, Bowman sacrificed Saad to the Blue Jackets after he emerged as one of the most important pieces to Chicago's Stanley Cup win in 2015.
He might not be the offensive catalyst Panarin was for the last two seasons, but Saad is definitely a quality producer in his own right, coming off a 53-point campaign in Columbus. Perhaps most importantly, though, Saad's return gives Jonathan Toews a consistent winger again.
Toews has been dealt a revolving door of wingers since Saad's departure, and his offensive numbers have predictably dipped. Saad's greatest asset is his speed, but is skilled in shot-suppression as well. Paired with Toews, head coach Joel Quenneville has a trustworthy combo to throw against opponent's top lines, as opposed to pairing his captain with younger, less experienced players, which was often the case a season ago.
The Blackhawks, collectively, can now roll the formerly formidable duo of Toews and Saad together, with a second line featuring Kane and Artem Anisimov, while Sharp occupies the wing on the third unit. Suddenly, Chicago's attack appears much more balanced.
After marching to the top of the Western Conference standings in the regular season, Chicago managed just three goals in four disappointing playoff games. Its offense became too predictable for Nashville's fortuitous defensive corps, and it showed. But now, months into an offseason where maintaining the status quo wouldn't be good enough, and committing to deliver change, Bowman appears to have bettered his club without altering his approach at all.
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