Saad on line with Kane, Schmaltz, hopes to return to form for Blackhawks

CHICAGO -- Brandon Saad didn't want to talk much about last season, be it about the Chicago Blackhawks struggles or his own. The 25-year-old left wing was focusing on the present and the positive, and his second-line assignment with center Nick Schmaltz and right wing Patrick Kane.

"It's something where those two guys bring so much speed and skill, that's how I like to play, too," Saad said. "We're getting used to playing with them, but I think we'll be a pretty useful trio out there."
Saad has always been useful, his powerful game earning him the nickname "Man Child" during his NHL rookie season with the Blackhawks in 2012-13. Now he's looking for his production to match the power again.
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Coach Joel Quenneville said Saad did some good things last season but has more to give.
"Just his overall game. If he elevates it a little bit, he'll add so much to our team and to his line," Quenneville said. "I just think there's more to his complete game, whether it's having the puck more or he's shooting better or using his speed the right way and being better defensively. Right now, he's on a line with two really good players and the upside for him can be huge."

Saad, who played predominantly on the top line with Jonathan Toews last season, had 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 82 games, the lowest point total of his NHL career. He had 18 fewer points than the career high of 53 he scored in each of his two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2015-17). Six of his goals last season came in his first six games, including a hat trick in a 10-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Blackhawks season opener on Oct. 5.
Throughout the season Saad seemed to have the scoring opportunities but not the finish.
"Yeah, that's part of it," Saad said. "But I always say, you create your own luck. It's just bearing down, getting back to the basics and improving what you need to improve on. It's a new year. I'm excited about a new year and I think everyone's looking forward to that."
Saad, Schmaltz and Kane have been working together since training camp began on Sept. 14. Schmaltz and Kane had good chemistry last season, and a steady net-front presence like Saad on the line should help.
"He's one of the best at protecting the puck," Schmaltz said. "He has a good stick, he's hard to move from in front of the net and he gets those little shots off. They may not be the hardest shots but he's quick with his stick and can find those loose pucks. Playing with a guy like that, you just want to funnel pucks to the net and he's always around banging home rebounds. Hopefully we can use that to our advantage, know where we're going to be at all times and play off him."
Kane skated with Saad in Chicago through most of the summer and expects Saad to have a big year.

"I just think he really worked hard on his skills and some of the intangibles and skill work that goes along with playing the game," Kane said. "You could see it in scrimmages and different things. He's still a fast skater but it looks like he's slowing things down a bit, playing a little more controlled right now, anyway. I think it'll bode well for him. Just from what I saw this summer and the work he put in, I think he's going to have a big season. I still believe that, and I'm hopefully a part of that as well."
Saad said he tinkered with a few things this offseason, doing some extra skill work, "keeping your head up, making plays with the puck and using your edge work to escape out of corners, things like that." He's hoping it'll lead to better results for him, his line and the Blackhawks.
"For me, it's sticking to my game, crashing the net, being around the net," Saad said. "I think that'll compliment [Schmaltz and Kane] well, give them space on the outside and hopefully we can continue that with success going forward."