Blackhawks Top 100 – #90 Kris Versteeg

May 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Kris Versteeg (23) during the second period of game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

We’re heading into the dog days of the offseason, counting the days until the Chicago Blackhawks 2014 season kicks off. We’re going to do a Top 100 list of the all time Chicago Blackhawks.  It’s a fun way to pass the time and take a stroll down memory lane.

Kris Versteeg’s Chicago Blackhawks Statistics

Games – 233

Goals – 54

Assists – 76

Points – 130

+/- – +31

Kris Versteeg is the Grover Cleveland of our beloved Chicago Blackhawks by serving two non-consecutive terms on the Hawks. Versteeg aka Steeger was drafted 134th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. While still in the minors, Versteeg would be traded to the Blackhawks before the start of the 2006-2007 season.

While playing with the Rockford IceHogs during the 2007-2008 season Versteeg made his NHL debut with the Hawks when he was called up for a total of 13 games, tallying 2 goals and 2 assists.

Versteeg played his first full season with the Blackhawks in the 2008-2009 season, one of his signature achievements being scoring the opening goal in the 2009 Winter Classic against the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field. Steeger ended the season as a Calder Memorial Trophy nominee (he lost to Steve Mason). During their historic run for the Cup in 2010, Versteeg played an integral role in ending the Blackhawks’ near 50 year Stanley Cup drought, notching 14 points in 22 games in the playoffs. Steeger would make his mark on the Blackhawks Stanley Cup parade by singing an altered version of LMFAO’s “Yes” to the throngs of Hawks fans on Michigan Avenue.

Unfortunately Steeger was one of the Hawks that fell victim to the Great Blackhawks Roster Purge following the 2010 Stanley Cup win. Vertseeg was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for several forwards, Viktor Stalberg being one of them. For the next several years Steeger would bounce from the Leafs to the Philadelphia Flyers, and then to Florida Panthers to reunite with former Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon.

Then in November of the 2013-2014 season Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman surprised everyone by making a trade that brought Steeger back to Chi-Town. Hawks fans initial reaction was nostalgia-steeped elation.

Unfortunately, Versteeg’s reunion season with the Blackhawks turned out to be severely underwhelming, as his presence was hardly felt during the regular season and even less so in the playoffs. This offseason, Steeger’s sub-par performance has even gotten his name thrown into trade rumor mills. With his stock low at the moment however, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether he’ll be skating at the United Center again this upcoming season.

Here’s hoping Versteeg can turn things around should he remain a Blackhawk.

What do you think of Versteeg at #90? Too low, Too high or shouldn’t have been ranked?

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