Chicago Blackhawks 2016-17 Over/Under: Andrew Desjardins

As the regular season begins in just a couple of weeks, the Chicago Blackhawks are looking to improve on their early exit last season. The team kicks off training camp at Johnny’s IceHouse West in Chicago on September 23. Over the next few weeks, Blackhawk Up will give projections for the stats of each player heading into the season, based off the trend of past three seasons, career averages and potential linemate projections. 

Andrew Desjardins is hoping to hold a spot as young prospects make their mark with the Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are in a transitional period as a franchise. After capturing three Stanley Cups in a six-season span, the Blackhawks looked tired and beat-up in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs first round matchup against the St. Louis Blues, and this summer has been focused on the young talent in the organization.

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The biggest question, outside of what the young talent will provide to the Blackhawks, is where does it leave the current role players? One in particular is winger Andrew Desjardins.

In the 2014-15 season, the Blackhawks acquired Desjardins from the San Jose Sharks. He would go on to play a grinder role on Chicago’s fourth line during the end of that season and into the playoffs as the Blackhawks would go on to win the Stanley Cup.

Desjardins’ contract was up at the end of 2015, and in a subtle move, he decided to re-sign with Chicago on a two-year deal.

As Desjardins now enters Year 2 of that extension, he’ll have to do a bit more on the ice to keep a hold of his spot in the Blackhawks’ regular lineup. Players like Ryan Hartman, Tyler Motte, Brandon Mashinter and Jordin Tootoo could all be potential fourth-line, grinding-type winger options for Chicago this season, so Desjardins will need to be consistently productive on and off the scoresheet to keep his spot.

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Factors

Last Three Seasons:

• 2013-14: 81 GP – 3g, 14a, 17Pts, -8, 11:09 TOI (with San Jose Sharks)
• 2014-15: 69 GP – 5g, 5a, 10Pts, -1, 10:44 TOI (with San Jose Sharks/Chicago Blackhawks)
• 2015-16: 77 GP – 8g, 5a, 13Pts, -8, 13:23 TOI

Career Average:

• 82 Game AVG: 5g, 9a, 14Pts, -4, 10:55 TOI

Potential Linemates:

• Marcus Kruger – Most Likely
• Dennis Rasmussen – Most Likely
• Ryan Hartman – 50/50
• Tyler Motte – 50/50
• Brandon Mashinter – 50/50
• Jordin Tootoo – 50/50
• Tanner Kero – 50/50

Projection: 4G, 6A, 10Pts

With Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman making it clear in the offseason that the 2016-17 Blackhawks will focus greatly on youth and internal development, a player like Desjardins needs to be concerned about how much ice time he’ll receive and will need to make the most of it when he gets the chances.

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Desjardins plays a somewhat dying style of hockey in today’s NHL, defensively grinding and physical with limited offensive potential. There’s really no changing Desjardins as a player now, so his 2016-17 year will have to be his best year to keep a consistent spot with Chicago.

Writer Prediction: Under

Unfortunately for Desjardins, as much of a nice guy as he is and what he brings to the Blackhawks, his services will more than likely be limited on the ice as the season progresses and the young talent emerges for Chicago.

He’ll have to exceed last year’s production to make it worth while for Chicago to keep him past the trade deadline, and past this season beyond that.

If Desjardins can produce at that level, more power to him, but it seems his time in Chicago could be on the short end of the stick. Therefore, the production projection for Desjardins is 10 points for the 2016-17 season.