Shaw Shines in Hawks loss to Vancouver

Published: 1^st Feb 12 1:30 am

Blake Schuster
Blake Schuster

RANT It!

Anne-Marie Sorvin-US PRESSWIRE

Around the time Alex Burrows was pulling Duncan Keith’s hair in a 4-0 Vancouver victory in Chicago back in March, 2009 Andrew Shaw found himself on the 26-31-11 Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League.

That season Shaw only scored 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists), was a -4, and was along way away from the thought of the NHL.

The Andrew Shaw who took the ice Tuesday night in Chicago’s 3-2 overtime loss in Vancouver might not recognize that player from 2009.

Shaw entered tonight with seven points in his first 11 games in the NHL since being called up to replace an injured Patrick Sharp.

But Shaw was meant to be just that: A replacement.

Not even the best scouts could have predicted Shaw’s burst onto the scene — proven by his name being called 139^th overall in the 2011 Entry Draft — making it hard to send him down when Sharp got healthy.

The Hawks only had one answer: Don’t.

Chicago instead sent down fellow rookie Jimmy Hayes who had also been playing above expectations.

But while Shaw got to stay on the roster, he wasn’t going to be able to stay on the second line. Instead he was sent to Dave Bolland’s checking line — replacing Jimmy Hayes — responsible for shutting down the past two scoring champions in the NHL, Daniel and Henrik Sedin,

And in the process of learning a new role Chicago learned a new #ShawFact.

The 20-year old thrust himself into the rivalry by being arguably the best fore-checker on either team Tuesday night. Shaw took only three shots on net, wasn’t on the ice for any goals by either team, and yet 65 was a reoccurring number on ice for the Hawks all game.

In fact, Quenneville had Shaw play near 22 minutes, two of which were on the power play.

The Canucks even began taking notice to him too. Shaw was on the receiving end of monstrous hits all night most notably two from Keith Ballard, and once from Alex Edler.

The second line Andrew Shaw may not produce as much on the checking line Andrew Shaw, but just as he’s done since joining the club, the kid has been adapting to what his team needs.