The Chicago Blackhawks were one of the biggest disappointments in the NHL last season. Only a year removed from winning their first Stanley Cup in 39 years, Chicago struggled to stay healthy and then laid a first round egg in the playoffs.

The struggles that hit the Blackhawks went a bit beyond the obvious injury bug, as the goalkeeping tandem of Ray Emery and Corey Crawford was consistently inconsistent.

Former Norris Trophy candidate Duncan Keith played far below his expected level. He finished with 40 points, which is hardly terrible, but it’s 29 less than he posted two years ago during the Cup run. Keith was also limited to a single assist in the five game series loss to Phoenix.

Nick Leddy was second among Blackhawks defensemen with 37 points. The second-year blue-liner played in all 82 games and was a pleasant surprise for Chicago faithful. Unlike Keith, the 21-year-old Leddy was a presence in the postseason for the Hawks posting a goal and a pair of assists.

Steady Brent Seabrook had another solid year, with 34 points and a plus/minus of plus-21, good for second on the team. Seabrook was an anchor on the Chicago blue-line, and at only 27, will be there for a while. Seabrook is typically the leading hitter in Chicago and among the top in blocked shots.

After acquiring Jonny Oduya from Winnipeg in a late season trade, Chicago chose to sign him for the next three seasons. Oduya is a steady addition to a porous defense, but he’s not top tier fantasy material.
Niklas Hjalmarsson’s name was seen more in trade rumors than on the score sheet. The same can be said for Steve Montador and free agent signings Michal Rozsival and Sheldon Brookbank. While they each add an element to the Blackhawks, their contribution to your fantasy roster will be nominal.