Chicago Blackhawks 2018 Exit Interviews

The Chicago Blackhawks had a successful 2017-18 campaign after a disastrous 2016-17 season left them dead last in the Elite Hockey Experience. It wasn't a full success this year, as the Hawks dropped a 3-1 lead in the first round of the 2018 playoffs, eventually bowing out to the Dallas Stars. But, at least, the future again looks bright in the Windy City.

Exit interviews have taken place with all of the players on the main roster. Below are summaries of those reviews, along with a grade given by team management for their performance on the year.
 

Jonathan Toews, C (Captain)
82, 39-59-98, +20

What more can be said about the leader of the Blackhawks? Toews is a natural captain and enjoyed a renaissance season after a summer one-for-one deal that saw Steven Stamkos head to Los Angeles. His chemistry with Cam Atkinson was undeniable and despite having a few different players on his left wing last season, Toews remained consistently productive in all facets of the game. He received the franchise tag designation in the spring and will be a mainstay in Chicago for many years to come. Grade: A+

Cam Atkinson, RW
82, 49-48-97, +26

Rescued from St. Louis last offseason, Atkinson produced his best EHE season to date paired with Toews all season long. He led the league in goals and finished near the top in shots at a 4.5 shot-per-game clip. Atkinson was lethal on the power play with 16 extra-man tallies and chipped in eight game-winners. He'll be in the final year of his contract in 2018-19, though he could be franchise tagged next offseason. Even with a somewhat uncertain future, Atkinson figures to remain in the upper echelon of wingers in the EHE for the next several years. Grade: A+

Matt Niskanen, D
82, 18-58-76, +16

Coming off a 20-goal campaign in San Jose last season, Niskanen came to Chicago after having been acquired by the Rangers in the same offseason. He just missed the 20-goal mark, but became the de-facto leader on the Hawks blueline and provided 58 assists - 21 of those on the power play. There's no doubt his status as an unrestricted free agent this offseason could leave a huge void on the Blackhawks backend. There's nothing keeping the Hawks from re-signing him, though. Grade: A+

Chris Kreider, LW
82, 29-46-75, +15

The lone holdout from last season, Kreider also enjoyed his best EHE campaign to date. A steady hand despite playing on three different lines at times, Kreider was a key reason for Chicago's regular season success, doubling his PPG total and taking nearly 50% more shots from 2016-17. He's a restricted free agent this offseason, and one figures Chicago will be more than happy to lock him up long term. Grade: A+

Zach Parise, LW (Assistant Captain)
82, 32-35-67, +3

Parise added 32 goals to his impressive 141-goal total in the EHE over the past four seasons. Though he struggled and cooled down a bit down the stretch after being bounced from the Toews/Atkinson line, there was never any worry about Parise's leadership and production (though he was held scoreless in the post-season). It's unlikely he returns to the Hawks with the free agent landscape as it is, along with the budding talent due up from Rockford next season. But there's no doubt Parise will land on his feet for next season. Grade: A

Jordan Staal, C
78, 22-36-58, +17

Staal gave the Blackhawks instant stability down the middle after a mid-season trade from the defending Stanley Cup champion Senators. Staal won more than 60% of his faceoffs while contributing 58 points with rotating linemates. He figures to settle into a third line role while playing significant penalty kill minutes over the next few years, giving the Hawks an opportunity for even more depth in the lineup. Grade: A

Jake Muzzin, D
82, 14-40-54, +5

Another Blackhawk defenseman who had a career season, Muzzin came into his own with a solid 54-point campaign despite playing a full three minutes less per game than in the previous year. Muzzin was a steal for Chicago; he was acquired with 6th and 7th round picks for Justin Holl and 2nd and 3rd round picks in last year's draft. Muzzin has two more years under contract and figures to be a prominent part of the Hawks defense for at least that long. Grade: A

Charlie Coyle, RW
79, 24-29-53, +13

While Coyle wasn't as prolific in his 39 games in Chicago (8-15-23) as his 40 games in Dallas (16-14-30), his relative youth and controllability will come in handy for Chicago in the years ahead. Coyle played significantly fewer minutes per game in the second half of the season (a 3:40 drop), mostly slotted into a checking role on the third line. He figures to be a mainstay there next season with Jordan Staal and possibly Chris Kreider. Grade: B+

Justin Williams, RW
82, 15-30-45, -3

"Mr. Game 7" was part of a huge deal early in the season between Colorado and Vancouver, and ended up enjoying his most productive part of the year with the Canucks going for a 9-18-27 line in 37 games. He managed only three points in 18 games with Chicago and added a goal and an assist in seven playoff games. Williams was brought in for his leadership, clutch nature, and to put the Hawks over the top for the playoffs. That has to be seen as a failure now, and his future (he will be a UFA this offseason) will be much discussed in the weeks ahead. Grade: C

Jonathan Marchessault, C/W
79, 22-22-44, +30

A tale of two halves for Marchessault, who stormed out of the gate after coming over from the Capitals in the Rasmus Ristolainen deal but slowed in his production over the last 30 games of the regular season. Marchessault was acquired for his NHL prowess, though, and should rate extremely well for Chicago over the next three seasons at least both offensively and defensively. Grade: B-

Brent Seabrook, D (Assistant Captain)
82, 8-29-37, +5

There are a lot of miles on Seabrook, who's had an exemplary career and returned to Chicago to put up a fine season. His ice time was down to 21:50 from a 24-minute average the previous three seasons, but there was no denying his leadership and clutch ability to rise to the occasion. Seabrook had four points in seven playoff games, and was a big reason Chicago was able to stay in it against a surging Stars club. Grade: B+

Paul Martin, D
82, 6-23-29, +32

A revelation on the backend, Martin turned back the clock for his best statistical performance in his EHE career. His +32 rating doubled his rating from the past three seasons combined, and all of it despite playing a minute less than last season (18:33 per game). An unrestricted free agent who is likely due a significant ratings drop this offseason, Martin may be heading off to retirement. If so, he definitely went out on a high note. Grade: A-

Kevin Klein, D
76, 4-16-20, +3

The well-traveled Klein, who's played for four clubs in four seasons in the EHE, landed in Chicago at the mid-season mark and provided stability in a third-pairing role. He offered up 10 points in 39 games with the Blackhawks and was seldom out of position. He heads to the EHE offseason as an unrestricted free agent, but with his "real-life" counterpart hanging up the skates last offseason, one figures he'll be joining Paul Martin in the retirement category. Grade: B-

Mike Fisher, C
31, 6-13-19, +9

The $9 million dollar man arrived to Chicago with much fanfare and did not disappoint, offering up 19 points in a third line role and gave the Hawks another solid center for their abbreviated playoff run. Brought in solely as a rental (though at high financial cost), many will likely see this as a failed experiment. But Fisher provided what he was brought in to provide, and will likely head into a career sunset for the second and final time. Grade: B

Derek Forbort, D
76, 2-16-18, +25

Forbort emerged in his first EHE season as a dependable, hard-hitting rearguard who can anchor the backend for the Blackhawks for many seasons to come. Though he will have to limit his penalty totals in the ensuing campaigns, Forbort figures to earn more ice time and more responsibilities next season. Grade: B

Marcus Foligno, LW
82, 6-7-13, E

Foligno managed to basically duplicate his offensive output from previous seasons despite playing in roughly half the ice time this past season. A restricted free agent who is controllable for several years, Foligno is the prototypical fourth line energy player who can hit, is responsible in his own end, can kill penalties, and can chip in with the occasional goal. Grade: C+

Cal Clutterbuck, RW
80, 4-4-8, -4

Clutterbuck almost replicated his production in Chicago (he was traded twice this season) during the playoffs with a timely goal and assist against the Stars. Otherwise, it was a ho-hum campaign for the 30-year old UFA-to-be. He was best utilized on the penalty kill, though the numbers in that area slid towards the end of the season. With Brock McGinn, Colton Sissons, and others coming from Rockford to compete for spots, Clutterbuck will likely be looking elsewhere in the offseason. Grade: C-

Luke Glendening, C
79, 2-5-7, -10

While no one would compare him to the center that he replaced (Antoine Vermette as part of the Jordan Staal deal), Glendening was serviceable in a fourth line center role in Chicago. Winning more than 54% of his faceoffs gives him value, along with three more years on his contract. Though at $2 million per season, Glendening will have to improve his defensive stats to remain in the lineup. Grade: C-

Brian Elliott, G
69, 45-20-4 2.58, .909

Elliott kept Chicago in games all throughout the season, and you can't ask for much more from a starting goaltender. But down the stretch and into the playoffs, it was clear that Elliott, who'd never started more than 37 games in an EHE campaign, had fatigued from having played in 69 contests in the regular season. He was serviceable in the playoffs, but wasn't able to backstop the Hawks into the second round. He'll be a UFA come the offseason, and one expects the Blackhawks to look for a younger, longer-term option. Grade: A-

Mike Condon, G
13, 8-5-0, 3.07, .884

Condon, brought in as the de-facto heir to the goaltending throne, was not able to be a consistent nor reliable option for head coach Gerald Gallant. That led to Brian Elliott starting almost 70 games this season, and with three more years on his contract along with a poor rating looming this offseason, it appears the Condon experiment may be over in Chicago. Grade: D

Others: Brayden McNabb, D; Colton Sissons, C/RW; Jacob Josefson, C

McNabb was acquired to be a seventh D-man for this season and performed well when needed. He figures to compete for a permanent spot in the six-man rotation moving forward. Sissons played in 27 games with the Hawks, and shined with 22 goals in 40 games in Rockford. He should be a mainstay in the lineup next season. Josefson only appeared in two games with Chicago, relegated to practices and the press box. It was an unenviable position to be in, but Josefson never complained and showed true class all season. It's likely he'll remain in the organization, possibly anchoring the younger players in Rockford next season.