Blackhawks player grades, Part 1: Spencer Knight proves himself, young defense develops

Grading a team such as the Chicago Blackhawks is a tricky proposition. Do you grade their play in a vacuum, or factor in their team-wide deficiencies and management’s overarching plan? Is it fair to measure them against the likes of the Colorado Avalanche or the Dallas Stars, or is it only realistic to measure them against each other, given how wide the talent gap is? Do you grade on a curve because of their youth, or do you grade them harshly so there’s room for those scores to grow as the players themselves grow?Advertisement