Blackhawks: Vinnie Hinostroza definitely has boosted the offense

The Chicago Blackhawks traded for Vinnie Hinostroza on April 2nd, and since then, he has been one of the team’s best forwards.

Since April 4th, only Patrick Kane has more points than Hinostroza with the Blackhawks. Kane has nine points in the last nine games, while Hinostroza has eight in the same time period.

The amazing thing is that Hinostroza is doing more with less. Jeremy Colliton and company are not playing him 15 minutes a night. Hinostroza is averaging 13:09 minutes a game and only has 13 shots on goal. Still, he has scored twice and registered six assists.

So many different outlets are talking about Hinostroza right now, and for good reason too. Understanding why he fell out of Florida’s favor and why he cost the team so little to bring back probably will never make sense. However, Blackhawks fans are not complaining.

Stan Bowman can not take this gift for granted when it comes to the Blackhawks off-season.

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Bowman made a good trade, he added a great player back to the team, and while fans usually complain about reunions with former players, this is one everyone can get behind.

So now is the time to sign Hinostroza and keep him in Chicago for a while. Ryan Hartman just signed a team-friendly deal in Minnesota for a little job security, and because he is having some fun, why not offer Hinostroza the same thing?

Honestly, for 1.8 or 2 million, I could see Hinostroza staying in Chicago for the next two or three years. This team needs reliable forwards that can play with speed and intensity. That is exactly what Hinostroza does. Considering he has seen what hockey is like around the league, I am sure he will want to re-sign.

Hinostroza is playing some of his best hockey since being with the team a few years ago. He did have some good flashes in Arizona and Florida, but the past nine games have been even better for him.

Hinostroza might not be as young as some of the other players on the team, but he still has a lot of great hockey ahead of him. How much do you think his next contract will be worth?