Michal Rozsival, defenseman
2014-15 cap hit: $2.2 million | Age: 36 | Season stats: 1 goal, 12 assists plus/minus-0
Season recap: Rozsival was given an opportunity to play more than he had in previous seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. His 65 regular-season games were his most since the 2010-11 season. His performance varied throughout the year. His possession numbers were down -- he had a 53.5 Corsi percentage -- and he had a minus-1 goal differential. Last season, he had a 58.8 Corsi percentage and a plus-5 goal differential. Rozsival played some of his best hockey of his season against the Nashville Predators during the first round of the playoffs. His season was cut short when he fractured his ankle during Game 4 of the second round. The Blackhawks struggled to find a defenseman to fill his skates in the final two rounds.
Season highlight: Rozsival had an assist, was a plus-14 Corsi and played 30:14 in the Blackhawks’ triple-overtime win against the Predators in Game 4 of the first round.
Season lowlight: Rozsival’s injury was a gruesome one as he tripped while getting back on a play and turned his ankle completely around.
Final grade: C.
Inside the numbers: Rozsival was averaging 18-plus minutes in the Blackhawks’ first nine playoff games before getting hurt. None of his replacements -- Trevor van Riemsdyk (7:02), David Rundblad (7:29), Kimmo Timonen (8:40) and Kyle Cumiskey (9:28) -- came close to that.
Quotes: Rozsival: “This is definitely the place to play. I won two Cups here. I waited a long time to get my first one, and all of a sudden I have two in three years playing here.”
What’s next: Rozsival said recently he expects a full recovery from his injury and would like to play next season. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent. He said he would like to return to the Blackhawks, but that likely won’t happen based on the Blackhawks’ cap situation.
