In his first full season with the Blackhawks, Michael Frolik played a little under 13 minutes per game in 63 games. He scored five goals with 10 assists and finished minus-10. Frolik played in four playoff games scoring a goal in Games 3 and 4 vs. Phoenix and picking up an assist in Game 5.
Boden's take: Aah, the Mystery of Michael Frolik. Even Frolik himself seemed mystified over his regular season disappearing act. A career-worst season included more healthy scratches (17) than points (15). For the second straight postseason, however, he was very good in the playoffs -- the saving grace to his year. That performance a year ago showed potential for which he was rewarded a three-year, 7 million deal that most Hawks fans liked when it was announced after that what he did in that 2011 Vancouver series (admit it, be honest now).
Myers' take: If only Frolik couldve taken his game from the 2011 playoffs and applied it to last season, he wouldve been terrific. Frolik came in with confidence, or at least he should have, based on his performance vs. Vancouver. But Frolik struggled out of the gate and was AWOL through most of the season. The guy who had two consecutive 21-goal seasons didnt get his first goal until Oct. 22. Frolik admitted his confidence was shaken, and it looked like it on the ice. Yes, he had a decent playoff series, again, but it was way too little, way too late.
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2012-13 Expectations
Boden: So now it's about finding a way to be as effective over the six-month grind as he was in his four playoff games against Phoenix. For three of those games, he did it with Dave Bolland and Bryan Bickell while Andrew Shaw was suspended. Is that where he should be? The bosses and fans sure wouldn't mind the 21-goal seasons he supplied Florida in his first two NHL seasons. He probably wouldn't either after totaling 16 the last two years.
It should be noted I've rarely seen anyone work harder trying to figure it out, consistently putting in extra time on the ice following practices. At this point, he has to earn it in training camp with a peek at the forwards on this roster. If the third line is the combo mentioned above, if Viktor Stalberg's somewhere on the first two lines and Jamal Mayers and Marcus Kruger are on the fourth -- there's Daniel Carcillo, Ben Smith, Jimmy Hayes, Brandon Saad and Jeremy Morin to out-perform.
Myers: Frolik has to be better, simple as that. Theres no doubt the talent and the drive is there. Froliks not afraid to crash the net, give everything he can on the ice. But he has to show the offense he had when he was with the Florida Panthers, or hes going to be watching more than participating this season.
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Up next: Marian Hossa