Shaw grateful for second chance with Blackhawks

CHICAGO -- Andrew Shaw is a different person.
Sort of.

Since the 28-year-old forward last played for the Chicago Blackhawks, he married longtime girlfriend Chaunette Boulerice in August 2017. They welcomed a daughter, Andy, on June 18, 2018.
He said he's matured.
So does that mean the agitating and scrappy Shaw is gone?
"I said matured, I didn't say I changed," Shaw said with a smirk at the 12th annual Blackhawks Convention on July 26. "I think I'm still going to have a lot of fun, I'll still annoy guys from time to time, but it's all fun and games. I have grown up, I'm older, I'm married, I have a lovely daughter and she's made me change even more, I guess. But I'm still the same guy."
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That's good news for the Blackhawks, who haven't had that consistent net-front presence Shaw provided since they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens on June 24, 2016. Shaw won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015, and his return to Chicago in a trade from Montreal on June 30 was welcomed by his teammates.
"It kills me to throw compliments for [Shaw] right away, but you have to," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "We all know what he meant to our team when we knew he was not coming back a few years ago. We knew right away of the void and kind of feeling that we were going to have without him in the locker room. He's just such a competitor, and the way he plays on the ice is a huge part to his personality. I think he's a high-energy guy the fans love for good reason. He'll run through a brick wall for his teammates."

Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook said Shaw's energy off the ice is just as vital.
"You need those guys around to spark things," Seabrook said. "The season gets long, gets dragged out, you're in some dark cities, snow and weather and all that kind of stuff, and then a guy like [Shaw] really brings that energy, that fire. Those tough days, long trips, things like that, he always seems to bring that energy and emotion and makes the team better."
Shaw had 96 points (41 goals, 55 assists) in three seasons with the Canadiens, including an NHL career-high 47 (19 goals, 28 assists) in 63 games last season. He also finished the season healthy, a positive after he had surgery on his left knee April 25, 2018.
"You look at his year, last year, he scored [nearly] 50 points, almost 20 goals, so his game's getting better and better," Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane said. "He's probably better than the last time he was here in Chicago. I'm sure he's looking for a bigger role, and he'll definitely be able to help us out. I'm happy to have him on our side again."
Shaw said he loved his time in Montreal but always hoped he'd get another chance with Chicago, where he had 137 points (70 goals, 67 assists) in 322 regular-season games and 35 points (16 goals,19 assists) in 67 Stanley Cup Playoff games from 2011-16.
"I feel I still have a lot to give," Shaw said. "I came off a pretty good year and I'm excited, feeling healthy, feeling energized. To come back to a city that's given me so much love and helped me grow to who I am, I have nothing but smiles."