Kris Versteeg will be getting some attention at the trade deadline, but it’s certainly not because of how great he’s been playing lately. The right wing has just one point in his last eight games and hasn’t scored a goal since January 9th. For the season he has just 13 goals in 58 games and with the Blackhawks facing salary-cap hell, there’s almost a certainty he’ll be traded.
Of course, teams might be a bit hesitant. Here’s another example of a player underperfoming after signing a big contract, this time worth $3 million a year. What has to be frustrating for the Hawks, who will want to get max value for a young player, not just dumping salary, is that Versteeg was actually playing worse as the Olympic break approached.
Versteeg is one of several players who entered the break in a slump, which included playing only 4:54 in the Hawks’ last game. He said the looming trade deadline hasn’t been a factor, although others have said it could be a distraction.
''I just have to go out there and work hard. Whatever happens happens,’' he said.