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Top 3 Underrated Players During the Blackhawks Dynasty Run

By Patrick McGann |
Chicago Blackhawks v Anaheim Ducks - Game Seven
Chicago Blackhawks v Anaheim Ducks - Game Seven / Harry How/GettyImages
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Building off of my previous article about the top three playoff series during the Blackhawks dynasty run, my next list is the top three underrated players from that time period. We all know about the legends like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and so on, but who are the important players that do not get as much recognition? This list shows my top three players who did not get as much of the spotlight from the Blackhawks championship run.

Number 3: Micheal Frolik

From the 2010-2011 season through the 2012-2013 season, Michael Frolik was a point making machine for the Blackhawks. In those three seasons, Frolik's playoff stats read 7 goals and 11 assists in 34 games played.

During the 2013 Stanley Cup Championship run, Frolik had 3 goals and 7 assists with one of those goals being a game winning goal. 2013 was Frolik's first real playoff run as he played in 23 games compared to 7 games and 4 games in seasons prior. He averaged about 13 minutes a night with 24 hits and 17 blocks. Frolik was a key contributor to the 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, and many forget his impact with the Hawks in his short time here.

2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Six
2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Six / Tasos Katopodis/GettyImages

Number 2: Brad Richards

Arguably one of the best full season pickups for the Blackhawks during their dynasty run, Brad Richards made a huge difference for the Hawks during their 2015 playoff push. Not to mention his 37 points in 76 games during the regular season.

Brad came in being a veteran, as he won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 and helped his New York Rangers make it to the Stanley Cup Final the year before in 2014. For the Hawks, he had 14 points in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games. 11 of those points were assists, as he was one of the best play makers other than Patrick Kane on the 2015 playoff roster.

2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Six
2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Six / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages

Number 1: Antoinne Vermette

Just as one could argue Brad Richards was one of the best full season pickups for the Hawks during the dynasty run, Antoine Vermette was the best trade deadline acquisition during this time for Chicago. 7 points in 20 playoff games does not sound like a legendary number at first, but Vermette had 3 game winning goals during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

His initial transition from being depended on in Arizona to being a third line center for the Blackhawks hit him hard. Interestingly enough, Vermette was scratched for 2 playoff games, but his impact was huge. Vermette was a plus 5 during the playoffs. As well as having a 59% face-off winning percentage. He truly embodies what a nice trade deadline rental acquisition for the playoffs should be. In the end, he earned himself a Stanley Cup and is responsible for some of the most memorable Blackhawks wins during the 2015 Stanley Cup run.

All stats courtesy of HockeyReference.com

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