Three years ago Bryan Bickell was a major contributor to a winning team to the Stanley Cup when he scored nine goals in 23 playoff games for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was rewarded with the next summer, $ 16 million contract extension for four years with the team, and it's pretty much done all downhill for him since.
His production declined his playing time was reduced, it was left out, and it has even been put on waivers (and went unclaimed) during the summer after the team was unable to find a trading partner for him.
On Monday, the team turned to the only other option she had when she announced that Bickell was sent to Rockford of the AHL.
Taking its place on the list will be Marko Dano, one of the key players Blackhawks received during the summer in the trade that sent Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Dan had seven points (one goal, six assists) in nine games in the AHL this season and had a very impressive NHL debut last season with the Blue Jackets when he recorded 21 points in 35 games in his rookie season 20 years.
Bickell still has a year remaining on his contract after this season at a salary cap hit of $ 4 million. By sending him to the AHL Blackhawks only save $ 950,000 from the ceiling.
The decision to sign him this long-term contract was controversial at the time because he had never really proved to be a big-time producer before the playoffs, and given the movements Blackhawks had making in recent years because of the salary cap is proven to be a costly extension.
Including his seven games this season (where he has yet to record a point) Bickell only 44 points in 146 regular season games since signing the contract.
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