However, injury trouble will riddle them early, as Alexandre Texier has been put on the IR due to an upper body injury.
So, former Blackhawk Brandon Saad is going to jump in his place.
Brandon Saad was drafted in the second round of the NHL draft in 2011. Saad had his first big stint on the Blackhawks in 2012 when he had 27 points in 46 games. He then had his first injury-free season in the 2014-15 season, when he had 52 points in 82 games, with a good playoff run and assisted on the goal that won the Blackhawks the Stanley Cup, when he dropped the puck back to Richards who then crossed it to Kane for the goal and the cup.
However, the year after, Brandon was traded to Columbus in a huge trade that sent Artem Ansisimov to Chicago. Saad had 106 points in Columbus in the two seasons he was there until the Blackhawks traded Artemi Panarin to the Blue Jackets and brought him back.
Saad had 115 points in 220 games from 2017 to 2019 in his final stint with the Blackhawks. He then found himself on the Colorado Avalanche for a year and has spent his last three years on the Blues. Last season with the Blues, Saad had 26 goals and 42 points in a fully-played 82-game season, his third one in his career.
At 31 years old, Saad should take advantage of this, as his career could be coming to an end.
POLL | ||
How would you rate Saad's time with Chicago? | ||
Bad | 14 | 3.5 % |
Average | 94 | 23.8 % |
Good | 201 | 50.9 % |
Very good | 86 | 21.8 % |
List of polls |