One of the beloved Chicago Blackhawks’ players of recent memory announced his retirement this morning.
Another icon of Chicago’s Stanley Cup-dynasty era hung up their skates today, as forward Andrew Shaw announced his retirement. Shaw had dealt with a number of concussions over the past few years, so this decision isn’t too surprising.
However, it is still very sad to see ‘the Mutt’ call it a career, as he became a quick fan favorite throughout his time in Chicago. While he also played three seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, he is most remembered for his years of service as a Blackhawk, where he helped the team claim the Stanley Cup in both 2013 and 2015.
Andrew Shaw was never a player that was going to score a highlight-reel goal. He was the kind of guy that got under the other team’s skin and crashed the net in those key situations. Despite being the Blackhawks’ token agitator, he was a lovable, happy-go-lucky guy and quickly became adored by fans and teammates alike.
The 29-year-old wasn’t the guy that sniped top-shelf goals, but despite that, he was still instrumental in a number of big Blackhawks’ games, particularly in the playoffs. It wouldn’t be wrong to consider him one of the ‘Hawks most clutch performers in the postseason, as a number of big moments can testify to.
Many of these playoff situations helped propel Shaw into Chicago sports infamy and further cemented his status as one of the Blackhawks’ most memorable players of the 21st century. From chippy moments at just the right time to game-ending overtime tallies, Andrew Shaw contributed to a number of consequential playoff moments throughout his time in the Windy City.
With the Mutt announcing his retirement today, it is worth reviewing some of those moments and how they contributed to the team’s recent dynasty. Here’s a look back at three of Andrew Shaw’s biggest playoff moments.