IceHogs Year in Review: Jeff Taffe

                      Position: Center                   Shoots: Left
                      Height: 6'3"                         Birthday: February 19, 1981
                      Weight: 210                        Hometown: Hastings, Minnesota

2010-11 Stats
GP   G   A   PTS   +/-   PIM   PPG   SHG   SOG   S%
74   30  37   67     +10    22     11       1     217    13.8

If you're looking for the IceHogs' most valuable player, look no farther than Jeff Taffe. In fact, he was named the team's MVP on April 9th at the final home game of the season.

Taffe did everything for the Hogs this season. He was on the top power play unit, killed penalties, and centered the top line after Ryan Potulny was traded on February 28th. Taffe scored many clutch goals and set up a lot of them as well. He paced the Hogs in scoring with 67 points, was the only one to hit the 30 goal mark, and was second on the team in +/- ratings with a +10. He was only behind Rob Klinkhammer's +14 rating.

Taffe's 30th goal of the year came at a perfect time for the Hogs. He scored the game winner in overtime in the last game of the season against the Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena. It was such a fitting ending to the year, considering how he was the go-to-guy all season long.

In addition to all of his on ice contributions, Taffe provided veteran presence and leadership to a young team. He also made the players around him better. The top line used to have him and Potulny on it, before the trade, and whoever was on the opposite wing had their play pick up. When Taffe was back at center with Potulny gone, both of the wingers on that line saw their play improve. Klinkhammer and Kyle Beach were just two of the guy who benefited. Brandon Pirri also did for awhile when Taffe moved onto his wing.

Taffe was recalled once during the regular season by the Hawks. He played on February 12th against the Phoenix Coyotes. The Hawks did call him up to be a part of the Black Aces for the playoffs on April 11th.

Taffe's contract is up this summer. It would be a good thing for the Hawks to re-sign him to a two-way contract for a veteran callup to have on hand and for veteran leadership in Rockford for what looks to be another young group of guys next season. 

Taffe in a game on November 27th against the Peoria Rivermen.

IceHogs Year in Review: Ben Smith

                    Position: Right Wing/Center     Shoots: Right
                    Height: 5'11"                         Birthday: July 11, 1988
                    Weight: 200                          Hometown: Avon, Connecticut

2010-11 Stats
GP   G   A   PTS   +/-   PIM   PPG   SHG   SOG   S%
63   19  12   31      -3     16      5       2      112   17.0

Ben Smith was one of the pleasant surprises on the IceHogs and the Blackhawks this year. He was one of the most consistent players for both clubs.

He spent most of the year with the Hogs, where he was able to grow as a player. The former Boston College Eagle's work ethic is second to none. He gives 100% on the ice and it's quite noticeable. Smith doesn't shy away from physical play and can always be found digging for pucks in the corner. His on ice positioning in all three zones is also great.

 

The rookie was a very versatile player for the Hogs. Throughout the year, he was used at both wing and center. He was one of their top penalty killers, who led the team in shorthanded goals with two, and was also used on the power play. He's also a great character guy in the dressing room and just an overall nice guy. Smith was named the Hogs' Rookie of the Year on April 9th at the last home game of the season.

Smith made his NHL debut on October 29th against the Edmonton Oilers. He was recalled later on in the year by the Hawks on April 6th and was up to stay. He scored his first NHL goal on April 8th on the road against the Detroit Red Wings. He made his NHL playoffs debut on April 13th in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Vancouver Canucks. In Game 2 on April 15th, he gave the Hawks a shot at winning as he scored two of the Hawks' three goals. The biggest goal of his young career came on April 24th in Game 6 of the series when he scored the game winning goal in overtime to force a Game 7. All Hawks fans will forever remember that goal.

 

Smith will probably make the Hawks' roster right out of training camp next season. There's a chance he could spend some minimal time in Rockford, but it's doubtful. He'll be a key asset in the Hawks' success next year, considering what he's done in the spotlight already.

Smith in a game on November 9th against the Peoria Rivermen.

Smith celebrating his game winning goal in overtime on April 24th with Marian Hossa. (chicagoblackhawks.com)

IceHogs Year in Review: Mathis Olimb

                     Position: Left Wing/Center      Shoots: Left
                     Height: 5'10"                        Birthday: February 1, 1986
                     Weight: 175                         Hometown: Oslo, Norway

2010-11 Stats
GP   G   A   PTS   +/-   PIM   PPG   SHG   SOG   S%
60   10  22    32    +8      22     3        1     104     9.6

The 2010-11 season started out rough for Mathis Olimb. At Blackhawks Prospect Camp in July, his shoulder was injured after awkwardly falling to the ice following a fight with Kyle Beach. He ended up having surgery on it and missed four months.

He made his IceHogs debut on November 24th against the Lake Erie Monsters. He was a versatile forward for the Hogs. Olimb was used at both center and left wing. He was also used on the power play and the penalty kill. He has great speed and a pretty good set of hands.

 

Olimb scored some big goals for the Hogs, including a short handed breakaway tally on April 9th against the Grand Rapids Griffins. He also helped the Hogs end their season on a high note. They were trailing 4-3 in the last game of the season against the Chicago Wolves. With 39 seconds left in regulation, he tied the game up and the Hogs went on to win in overtime.

The Norwegian Olympian won't be back in Rockford next year. He signed a two year contract with his old Swedish Elite League team, Frolunda, on April 29th.

Olimb taking a draw on November 27th in a game against the Peoria Rivermen.

IceHogs Year in Review: Jeremy Morin

                   Position: Left Wing               Shoots: Right
                   Height: 6'1"                         Birthday: April 16, 1991
                   Weight: 190                        Hometown: Auburn, New York

2010-11 Stats
GP   G   A   PTS   +/-   PIM   PPG   SHG   SOG   S%
22    8   4     12     +2     34      5       0       57    14.0

On June 23rd, it'll be one year since the Blackhawks made their first moves of the 2010 off-season that began the salary cap dumping no fan was looking forward to after the Hawks won the Stanley Cup. It'll also be one year since the Hawks acquired Jeremy Morin from the Atlanta Thrashers for Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, and Akim Aliu.

Morin started his first year in the Blackhawks organization in Rockford after being one of the final roster cuts of the preseason. They called him back up on November 5th and he made his NHL debut, against Atlanta, on the 6th. He played nine games for the big club, tallying 3 points (2G, 1A), and a memorable one for him definitely had to be on December 8th, at home against the Dallas Stars, when he scored his first career NHL goal.

During his time in Rockford, the former Kitchener Ranger made quite an impact with the team. He scored some big goals for the Hogs, including five on the power play. The gritty winger isn't afraid to dig in the corners for pucks, throw his body around, and even drop the gloves. He's fast and has a good shot, and it pretty much makes him the complete package. On December 18th, his last game in Rockford before he headed off to Buffalo, New York, to play for Team USA at World Juniors, he scored a goal with 14.1 seconds left in the 3rd period by driving hard to the net that tied the game. The Hogs went on to win in overtime.

At World Juniors, Morin suffered a shoulder injury midway through the tournament and missed a couple of games. He came back though and helped the team earn a bronze medal. When he came back, he had shoulder surgery and missed a little less than a week. He played in his first game back on January 11th. Four days later, on January 15th, his season ended. At Allstate Arena against the Chicago Wolves, Andrei Zubarev hip-checked him in open ice in the 1st period and Morin landed on his head. He got up and skated off under his own power, but he was out for the rest of the season with whiplash. 

Despite missing all that time, Morin was recalled by the Hawks on April 14th to be a part of the Black Aces for the playoffs.

Morin may or may not be with the Hogs next year. There's an extremely good chance he could make the Hawks' roster out of training camp. Spending some more time down in Rockford won't hurt at all though. It would only help him, considering he missed so much time this year. It would give him a chance to work on his defensive game and make his skating and his shot even better.

Morin during warmups on November 9th.

Morin during warmups on November 27th.

IceHogs Year in Review: Brandon Bollig

                    Position: Left Wing               Shoots: Left
                    Height: 6'3"                         Birthday: January 31, 1987
                    Weight: 225                        Hometown: St. Charles, Missouri

2010-11 Stats
GP   G   A   PTS   +/-   PIM   PPG   SHG   SOG   S%
55    4   0      4     -7     115     0       1       51     7.8

Brandon Bollig is one of those guys good teams need. He's someone that provides a lot of grit and character to the IceHogs.

During his first pro year, he threw his body around a lot and could normally be counted on for a good, solid hit. He also was not a stranger to dropping the gloves. He won most of his fights and provided a lot of energy for the team that way. He was fifth on the Hogs in penalty minutes with 115. Bollig was also used as a penalty killer throughout some of the season.

The undrafted Bollig signed a two year entry level contract with the Hawks on April 3, 2010, so he'll more than likely be back with the Hogs next year. His type of gritty play is something the Hawks greatly lacked this year after they traded guys like Andrew Ladd and Ben Eager due to salary cap reasons.

Bollig during warmups on November 27th against the Peoria Rivermen.

IceHogs Year in Review: Jimmy Hayes

              Position: Right Wing              Shoots: Right
              Height: 6'5"                         Birthday: November 21, 1989
              Weight: 210                        Hometown: Dorchester, Massachusetts

2010-11 Stats
GP   G   A   PTS   +/-   PIM   PPG   SHG   SOG   S%
 7    0    0     0       0      2       0        0      14     0.0

Out of all the guys that joined the IceHogs at the end of the year from juniors or college, Jimmy Hayes was the first to do so. He made his Hogs debut on March 30th against the Lake Erie Monsters after coming off of winning the 2011 Hockey East Championship with Boston College. In the four post season games, he tallied 6 points (4G, 2A). In the regular season, Hayes had 33 points (21G, 12A) in 39 games.

In his seven games with the Hogs, Hayes was held scoreless. But he did show some good hockey sense. He went right to the front of the net on the power play, and as often as he could, to use his big frame to screen the goalie. He's got a good set of hands on him as well. He didn't hit as much as he could have, considering his size, but hopefully that will come with more development. He has great potential to become a dominant power forward.

The day Hayes made his AHL debut was also the day he signed an entry level contract with the Blackhawks that will kick in at the start of the 2011-12 season. Hayes, the second round (60th overall) pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2008 draft and acquired by the Hawks at last year's draft for a 2nd round pick, will more than likely spend the year in Rockford next season while he develops.

Hayes (83) at the Hawks' Prospect Camp in July 2010. (chicagoblackhawks.com)

IceHogs Year in Review: David Gilbert

                  Position: Center                  Shoots: Left
                  Height: 6'2"                        Birthday: February 9, 1991
                  Weight: 176                       Hometown: Chateauguay, Quebec

2010-11 Stats
GP   G   A   PTS   +/-   PIM   PPG   SHG   SOG   S%
 5    2    1     3      +3      2      1       0       13    15.4

David Gilbert made his IceHogs season debut on April 3rd against the Texas Stars after 4 games in the QMJHL playoffs with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. He had 3 points (2G, 1A) in the four contests. This was after a great regular season where he played in 52 games, had 51 points (28G, 23A), and was +22.

In his five games with the Hogs this year, Gilbert looked good. He has good speed and a good shot. At 6'2", he's got good size to become a solid centerman in the pros. The Hawks' 7th round pick (209th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft could turn out to be a late round gem.

He scored his first two professional goals on April 10th in the final game of the season against the Chicago Wolves. The first one was at even strength and the second one was on the power play. 

Gilbert signed an entry level contract with the Blackhawks on May 31st. He'll more than likely be in Rockford for the full year next season and he will only add to the growing depth of centers that the Hawks seem to be accumulating in the system.

Gilbert in the Rookie Tournament hosted by the Maple Leafs in September 2010. (chicagoblackhawks.com)