Antoine Vermette
CHICAGO – Antoine Vermette paid little attention when he was labeled a bust of a late-season acquisition for the Chicago Blackhawks. He didn’t get discouraged when he was scratched three times earlier in the NHL postseason.
With two game-winning goals in the Stanley Cup Final, Vermette has answered every question about what the Blackhawks were getting when they paid a steep price to pick up the veteran forward from Arizona at the trade deadline.
And with a Stanley Cup title just one victory away for the Blackhawks in Game 6 tonight, Vermette insists he isn’t changing that narrow focus – not thinking beyond his next shift to the moment when he could raise the silver trophy for the first time.
“I’m not focused as much on (big goals) as just trying to focus on the process and to have fun while I’m at it,” Vermette said. “Just trying to help the team in different facets in which I can. Just keeping it simple – but obviously it’s nice to contribute that way.”
Vermette has contributed to heartbreak for the Tampa Bay Lightning in two of this series’ three games in Florida, scoring the eventual winning goals in the third period. He banged home a rebound two minutes into the final frame of Chicago’s 2-1 victory in Game 5 on Saturday night, putting the Blackhawks in position to clinch their third Cup in six seasons – and the first title of his 11-year NHL career.
Vermette has been the closest thing to a hero while giving the closest thing to a breakthrough performance in this tight Final otherwise devoid of individual superlatives.
He also scored the game-winner in the series opener at Amalie Arena, but goal-scoring is a secondary pursuit for Vermette, He went from being the Coyotes’ top-line center to a two-way role player in Chicago, but only after scaling a steep learning curve.
“I think in the beginning, he tried to understand the system,” forward Marian Hossa said. “I think after some time, he got the role, and he grew in that role unbelievably. He’s a great centerman, and he’s scoring right now big goals.”
Vermette claims he never felt extra pressure to produce for the Blackhawks after they gave up their first-round pick in this month’s draft and defenseman prospect Klas Dahlbeck to Arizona in the deadline trade for a player who will be an unrestricted free agent next month.
But then Vermette promptly didn’t score a goal in 19 regular-season games for the Blackhawks, managing just three assists. His new role as a depth forward was more of an adjustment than he realized at first.
“The rhythm of the game is not the same compared to when you’re used to playing 19 minutes a game,” Vermette said. “But when I got here I also recognized what a great opportunity it was to play for this team. I just wanted to have fun and contribute in whatever way I could.”