Chicago Blackhawks October Review: Most Disappointing Player
By Sean Sarcu
@seansarcu
Getty Images
Quite a few Chicago Blackhawks forwards have underwhelmed thus far in 2014-15, but none have been off their game quite as distinctly as Brandon Saad.
The speedy winger was invisible for multiple games at a time throughout October, especially towards the month’s end. Saad has been held without a point in each of Chicago’s last four games and was even demoted to the fourth line at one point. His usually-reliable defensive game has looked off-kilter. For a player that many (very justifiably) have likened to a young Marian Hossa, all of this is unacceptable.
It’s hard to say where exactly the problem lies. Saad has scored only once on 21 shots, numbers that underlie a miserable 4.8% shooting percentage that won’t last. Taking heart in statistics is nice enough, but it would be vacuous and simplistic to conclude that Saad’s slump is attributable solely to a run of bad luck. Typically one of Chicago’s best offensive creators due to his speed, he hasn’t been able to generate much at all on the attack this year. He has also been a terrible possession player relative to his teammates in 2014-15, slotting in near the bottom of Chicago’s roster in relative corsi. These numbers are bizarre (and unquestionably concerning) for Saad, who had been a fantastic possession player for his entire NHL career until now.
A restricted free agent following this season, Saad would stand to lose quite a bit of money if these issues persist. Look for him to escape the doldrums in November.
Sean Sarcu is a Chicago Blackhawks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter or add him to your network on Google.
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