Trevor van Riemsdyk had the same broad smile on his face at the Blackhawks’ exit interviews as he had in training camp back in September.
The 23-year-old defenseman went through the highs and lows of his first professional season, from making the team and earning coach Joel Quenneville’s trust to suffering two devastating injuries, first to his knee and then to his wrist. Yet there he was, playing in the Blackhawks’ last Stanley Cup Final games. Now van Riemsdyk will have his day with the Cup and then spend the summer training to see what he can bring to the Blackhawks in his second year.