Bryan Bickell and Andrew Shad had filled a significant role on the Chicago Blackhawks' power play in recent years — the net-front presence.
Bickell and Shaw were plugged into that spot on the Blackhawks’ top power-play unit more than any other players in the previous four seasons. Bickell played a key role there during the Blackhawks’ 2013 Stanley Cup run and Shaw in their 2015 run.
A net-front vacancy was created when both players were traded this offseason. As Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville began considering candidates, he turned to his checklist.
“Willingness to be there and fighting through it, so you can screen or double screen at times,” Quenneville said of the criteria.