The Hawks don't expect Bickell to deliver in the regular season and you shouldn't either. Bickell is built for the playoffs where he is an absolute beast. This past postseason, he drained seven goals and added three assists, and was a major headache for the opposition. But that's hard for him to sustain over a full 82 games. We guess you could buy low with a hope of a breakout season, but make sure you have a back-up plan when he fails to deliver for you.
The Blackhawks are hoping that a hot 2013 playoff performance will propel Bickell to a huge 2013-14 season. He earned a big new contract on the back of a nine-goal performance, including the game-tying goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals, during the Hawks' Cup run. He could have signed an even bigger contract had he left Chicago, but wisely realized his best bet was to stay and ride shotgun on a line with Jonathan Toews. Can he take the next step? Time will tell, but that postseason will make him an overdraft for sure. Don't lose your mind and be the one to over pay.
Bickell will need to show his stuff this season if he wants to be in the lineup, particularly with Daniel Carcillo in a Hawk uniform. Bickell found himself as a healthy scratch on a few occassions and his overall numbers went down from 37 points to 24. Remarkably, 15 of those 24 points came in his last 28 games. That late season spurt earned him playing time in the Hawks' playoff series against Phoenix. But he might need to morph his game into more of a ruffian's role to salvage his spot for this season. He could deliver a 25-point, 100-PIM, 175-hit season if he can recover his game.
Bickell took advantage of Chicago's salary cap problems by grabbing playing time that probably would not have been afforded to him otherwise. He cashed in 17 goals and 37 points last season. This will be a big year for Bickell to see if he can maintain his minutes for a team that has gotten deeper over the offseason.
Bickell is a big man -- 6-4 and 225 -- and like all other power forward types, his development has been slow. He's a great hitter who is still feeling out his offensive game. He profiles as a third-line menace who'll deliver decent point totals with great penalty numbers. But with the dearth of wingers to play with the Hawks' big studs, Bickell will get an occasional chance up top. He'll need to fend off comers Kyle Beach and Viktor Stalberg, though; watch his camp closely.
Bickell had an injury plagued 2008-09 season and spent most of his time in Rockford of the AHL where he was name the team's heavy hitter. He totaled 14 points and 56 PIMs last season. He had a shot at making the Hawks at the start of the season.
Bickell is one of many promising young players in the Blackhawks' system that will compete for a call up to the NHL. He tallied two goals and three assists in 12 playoff games with the Rockford Icehogs last season. Bickell will have an opportunity to make the Hawks in camp but will most likely spend the season with the Icehogs in the AHL.
Bickell had a nice cup of coffee with the Hawks last season with a pair of goals in only three games. He will start at Rockford this season, but could get some time with the big club depending on the injury situation and if the team opts to go younger in the second half of the season.
One of the prospects that could sneak in and take a spot for the 2006-07 Hawks. Is one of the Blackhawks prospects that has an impressive scoring resume. A big left winger at 6-feet-4, 223 pounds, Bickell split time between Ottawa and Windsor in the OHL where he accumulated 83 points including 45 goals in 57 games. Also in seven playoff games for Windsor, he scored five goals.
