Over the next five weeks, CSNChicago.com Blackhawks Insider Tracey Myers and PGL host Chris Boden will evaluate the 2011-12 performance of each player on the Hawks roster. One breakdown will occur every weekday in numerical order.
In his first season with the Blackhawks, Steve Montador played 52 games -- but only one after Feb. 7 due to concussion issues. Montador averaged 14 minutes and 46 seconds per game. He scored five goals -- two on the power play -- and has nine assists for 14 points. Montador had 45 penalty minutes, 49 hits and 46 blocked shots. He did not take the ice for a single playoff game.
Boden's take: Theres really no choice but to give Montador an incomplete after missing 27 of the last 28 regular season games and all six playoff games with concussion symptoms. He wasnt particularly noticeable in the 52 games he did play in, except for having some success parked in front on the net on the power play to ignite that unit out of its season-opening slump. He came to town with a reputation for turning the puck over, but it didnt appear to plague Montador more than anyone else. He also came here via a trade for his free agent rights with the best overall offensive numbers of his career the previous season in Buffalo (21 assists, 26 points). He also supplied the only righthanded shot among defensemen who were on the NHL roster outside of Brent Seabrook. But the Hawks gave him a four-year, 11 million contract many observers believe he couldnt come close to getting anywhere else, so that 2.75 million salary cap hit has three years left on it.
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Myers' take: When the Blackhawks signed the veteran to a four-year deal on the eve of July 1, they hoped he would bolster depth and bring some of the puck-moving element lost when Brian Campbell got traded to Florida. While Montador had his moments - mostly when he was put in front of the net on the power play - he had an otherwise so-so season. He struggled out of training camp, was in the third defensive pair and then suffered a concussion that sidelined him the final two months of the season. As Hawks debuts go, it was a tough one.
2012-13 Expectations
Chris: Providing Montador makes a complete recovery, were still waiting to see if he can provide something more than what was on display last season. His power play contributions were nice, but it didnt turn out to be a long-term solution, and shouldnt be counted upon moving forward. Montadors not afraid to mix it up with an opponent, and that is something this team needed - and still needs. Like Niklas Hjalmarsson, the money hes being paid usually requires greater production. If both end up being in the third pair together, or split between the second and third pairs, the Hawks need grit, intelligence, strong penalty-killing and shot-blocking. If Montador fills those roles effectively and hovers around 20-25 points on the other end, hell earn the money left on his contract - whether outsiders believe its a reasonable one or not.
Tracey: The first priority for Montador is to come back healthy. He was skating on his own by the end of the regular season, so he should be fine come September. But Montador has to have a better go-around this time. The Blackhawks need his veteran presence and need him to help bolster that group of defensemen.
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How do you feel about this evaluation? As always, be sure to chime in with your thoughts by commenting below and check out some of Montador's highlights above.
Previously: Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson
Up next: Sean O'Donnell