In his short time in Chicago, which is almost at a full calendar year, Michael Frolik has found himself as a fan favorite for some, and hated by some others (Jesse Rogers).
This season, it seems to have been more of the latter, though, as many have questioned whether or not the Hawks made the right decision in handing Frolik a hefty new three-year contract this summer.
Frolik was acquired prior to last year’s trade deadline, in exchange for another former first-round draft pick, Jack Skille. As it would turn out, the lack of offense from Skille wouldn’t see much of an upgrade with Frolik.
Since joining the Hawks, Frolik has notched just 22 points in 75 games and is a minus-6. He does bring a very good defensive game to the lineup, but the Hawks are paying him to be a two-way player. We’re still waiting for the other half of that game to show up.
Frolik received a three-year contract this past summer, with a cap hit over $2 million. Much of that was due to a breakout playoff series, in which Frolik posted five points in seven games, including a key penalty shot late in Game 6 to even up the series with Vancouver.
Other than that, Frolik has been downright ghostly for the Blackhawks on offense, no matter how well he performs on the other side of the ice.
You couldn’t blame the Hawks if they were experiencing a bit of buyer’s remorse because of that three-year deal. It’s not as if Frolik has been a complete bust, he’s not as useless as Bryan Bickell, but he’s a non-factor on the offensive side.
Joel Quenneville hasn’t made it any sort of secret that he’s going to get his guys performing into the lineup regularly. Ask Bickell or Sami Lepisto about that. Bickell has already been benched in favor of Jimmy Hayes. Could Frolik follow?
That’s unlikely, for now. But if Frolik continues to be invisible, there’s certainly a chance that he could be playing his hockey elsewhere before the three years on his contract are up.
Buy Chicago Blackhawks Tickets | Buy Chicago Blackhawks Apparel[...] The 2011-2012 season wasn’t an ideal season for anyone in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, but it was an especially rough one for Michael Frolik. [...]
all other parts of his game is a plus, never takes a SHIFT off, we have plenty of guys that put the puck in the net, yes it would be nice. when u just sign a 3 yr deal, ur offense #s r going 2 b looked at and nothing 2 c.having said that if they can package a deal bickel, frolik, sammy and draft pick 2 get a STUD d/men i’m all 4 it