We at Brightside are now formally recognizing our bias towards Andrew Shaw, and in this article we will state our reasons why in an attempt to move past it.

Andrew Shaw is reliable. He’s not going to give you 60 points but put in the right position like he has been this year, he can give you 40. Thats what the Hawks need of him. He brings heart every night and is the spark plug our team desperately needs.

Hes the best PP screen we have. Nobody gets underneath the skin of opposing teams and goalies quite like the Mutt.

His head butt goal will forever stand as the greatest non goal of all time.

He’s willing to lay it on the line every game and to go to bat for teammates. He’ll take the dumb penalty on people like Yandle so we can keep our guys on ice.

His chemistry with Toews and Kane is undeniable and he is becoming the glue of this team.

But why we will always love Shaw is that in overtime, when everybody else is tired and needs to stop, Shaw will find a last ditch effort and get the puck in net. See 3OT vs Boston in 2013 and Anaheim in 2015. (We know it was Kruger in 2015 but the head goal took Anaheim out of it and Shaw was crucial in Krugers goal).

So while we recognize the need for a longterm left wing, it needs to be a legitimate candidate. Not a rental. So please, stop saying Andrew Ladd unless you mean as a depth forward.

We will have legitimate candidates in an article soon. There’s really only one name we’d be happy with (James Van Reimdyk)