As the countdown to the Chicago Blackhawks 2018-19 season continues, we’ll take a look at one player who best wore the same number as there are days left until October 4 when the season kicks off against the Ottawa Senators.
The Chicago Blackhawks 2019 regular season is rapidly approaching. Well, rapidly as in it’s been just twenty-four hours since we last had this discussion.
Yesterday, we detailed Scott Darling at no. 33 and his long road to the NHL.
Today, as there are 32 days until the start of the season, we’ll look at one Chicago Blackhawks player who wore no. 32 in years past.
Before we begin, it’s necessary to acknowledge the overwhelming encouragement from the Chicago Blackhawks’ following on Twitter to use this day to talk about Chicago Blackhawks Legend Michal Rozsival.
And, as much as it’s fun to joke about Rozsival’s role on the roster, he was an instrumental piece of the puzzle that made up the 2013 Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks.
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He had a strong veteran presence on the team and, at the time, still was a defenseman who could and would make smart decisions. Playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs at 35 years old, Rozsival’s TOI (time on ice) was over 19 minutes. Additionally, his +/- was +9 on the playoffs and +18 in the regular season.
People tend to forget the role he played (before he became the Rozsival we all think of today) however one role I’ll never forget belongs to a different no. 32.
Kris Versteeg was a strong contender to be chosen as our no. 32 feature. Versteeg was fast, feisty and annoying for opposing teams. Additionally, when he scored in the NHL Stadium Series at Soldier Field back in 2014 he became the first player to score at Soldier Field, the United Center and Wrigley Field.
Top that, Patrick Kane.
However, Versteeg needs to have more of a story than that to truly earn the rights to being our 32 feature.
That said, his musical talents truly were unparalleled to other Chicago Blackhawks leading up to that point.
So barring any more unwarranted rambling about past Chicago Blackhawks, I’d like to introduce you to our player of the day, NHL All-Star John Scott.