Chicago Blackhawks: Andrew Shaw the true definition of an underdog story

Andrew Shaw proved that a boatload of effort and determination can carry you a long way in the NHL.

It was announced on Monday that gritty forward Andrew Shaw had announced his retirement from the National Hockey League due to concussion issues, bringing the curtain down on a hugely successful career that resulted in two Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks.

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Shaw was placed on long-term injured reserve on March 5 after suffering a concussion in a game against the Dallas Stars on Feb. 9, and with a long history of concussions throughout his career, the veteran was advised by the Blackhawks medical staff to call it a day.

With a young family to look after and with so much life still ahead of him, there is no doubt that Shaw made the right decision to put his long-term health first and you have to give him credit for making what would have been an incredibly tough decision.

However, the 29-year-old can leave the game he loves behind with his head firmly held high given everything he achieved, with Andrew Shaw proving the old adage right that you can do anything if you set your mind to it.

Andrew Shaw’s success with the Chicago Blackhawks was a true underdog story

The 139th overall pick in the Fifth Round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Shaw spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks and, while he wasn’t the flashiest or most skilled player on the roster, he was the heartbeat of the teams that won the Stanley Cup in 2012-13 and then again in 2014-15.

That was despite the fact that Shaw was overlooked in the 2011 Draft and he played on an American Hockey League contract in his first year, but he was soon signed to a pro deal by the Hawks after recording 23 points (12 G, 11 A) in 37 games in his rookie year in 2011-12.

He went on to register 151 points (75 G, 76 A) in 362 career regular-season games for Chicago, while he also appeared in 182 regular-season contests for the Montreal Canadiens after being traded to the Habs by the Hawks on June 24, 2016, putting up 41 goals and 55 assists for 96 points, before being traded back to the Blackhawks on June 30, 2019.

Known for his hard-hitting style and gritty approach to the game, Shaw always played with a real energy to his game and he made things happen for his team by playing a real hard-nosed game, getting under the skin of his opponent and dropping the gloves when needed in order to spark his teammates into life.

Shaw dished out a monster total of 1,044 hits throughout his career despite being undersized at 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds. In other words, Andrew Shaw was built like a featherweight but he sure as hell played like a heavyweight with all the heart of a true warrior.

He also had the ability to come up clutch in huge moments, as proven by his exploits in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Chicago Blackhawks. For instance, he scored the game-winning goal at 12:08 of the third Overtime in Game 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins, a series they would go on to win for the second of three championships they won between 2010 and 2015.

Shaw contributed nine points (5 G, 4 A) in Chicago’s Stanley Cup win in 2012-13 and 12 points (5 G, 7 A) in 2014-15, and he was able to produce offensively at critical moments and break games open with his skill as well as being a pest and a physical force.

Overall, while his name won’t be among the first when you think of those Chicago Blackhawks teams that created their own remarkable dynasty between 2010 and 2015, Andrew Shaw was very much a pivotal figure in their success and his journey can be filed under the heading of a true underdog story, while his path is also a welcome reminder that determination and sheer effort can lead to great things.

All the best in retirement, Andrew Shaw.