After a rough summer, tending to a concussion and knee surgery, Andrew Shaw returned to his rightful place in the Montreal Canadiens’ lineup. It didn’t take him long to make his mark by continuing to bring his Shaw-ness to the ice every night. Once paired up with the right teammates, he was on fire, pulling out all the stops and making it a career year. We’re not the only ones who noticed.
April 25, 2018: Andrew Shaw undergoes knee surgery, out six months
Shaw’s 2017-18 season ended early after a collision during a matchup with the Dallas Stars, where he was not only diagnosed with a concussion but also a knee injury on top of it. After recovering from the concussion, Shaw had at least six more months to work on recovering from his knee surgery.
September 5, 2018: What should the Montreal Canadiens do when Andrew Shaw is healthy?
With Shaw missing the start of the season, the Canadiens had a few decisions to make with the crowded forward group. Taking into consideration possible trades (Max Pacioretty) and youngsters vying for spots but not proving as valuable as expected (Nikita Scherbak), it seemed likely that Shaw had nothing to worry about and his place would be there when he returned.
November 11, 2018: Andrew Shaw’s promotion brought him to the right place
As it turns out, that was the case. And it didn’t take him long to find his role. After being paired up with Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin, Shaw scored three goals in two games. This just goes to show that when Shaw is paired with players that allow him to keep his game simple, he can get the job done.
January 3, 2019: Montreal Canadiens news & notes: Andrew Shaw to IR, Carey Price and Joel Armia to return
A couple of months later, Shaw rang in the New Year on the sidelines after another run-in with the Stars (rough bunch!) He was placed on Injured Reserve, this time with a neck injury. Because of his history, he was also in concussion protocol.
June 10, 2019: Andrew Shaw finally became the player Marc Bergevin thought he was acquiring
Since being brought in by the Canadiens in 2016, we’ve witnessed the occasional glimpse of the kind of player Shaw can be. But whenever he got his groove going, he’d be out of the lineup again thanks to injury or suspension. This season, Shaw found something we aren’t used to seeing: self discipline. That discipline, combined with his heart, leadership, and skill got him a career-high 47 points (19G, 28A).
June 12, 2019: Montreal shouldn’t trade Andrew Shaw unless the deal is right
That career year put Shaw at a high trade value, but Bergevin shouldn’t consider getting rid of him unless he lands a seriously good return. The kind of return that instantly upgrades defence with someone who can play top-four minutes. The kind of return that brings in someone like T.J. Brodie or Shayne Gostisbehere.
Related
If the Flyers have soured on Gostisbehere, Bergevin needs to strike
June 14, 2019: Andrew Shaw is a prime candidate for inclusion in an impact trade
The versatility that Shaw showed this year — taking a turn on all three forward positions and clocking plenty of time on the power play — has most likely put him on the radar. He’s a prime choice to include in a trade because he’s proven his abilities and would be a great asset to any team. But, while the Habs’ forward depth is strong, it would still take a hit if they decided to part with Shaw.
Grade Andrew Shaw’s season
| A+ | 42 |
| A | 186 |
| A- | 164 |
| B+ | 146 |
| B | 43 |
| B- | 5 |
| C+ | 5 |
| C | 6 |
| C- | 0 |
| D | 1 |
| F | 2 |
Related
Grade Jonathan Drouin’s season
