Blackhawks' 'team guy' Shaw takes demotion in stride

The ever-agitating Andrew Shaw made a seamless and fruitful transition into the Chicago Blackhawks' top six last season. 

But despite posting career-best numbers in an opportunity to skate alongside Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad on the team's second line, Shaw has since been supplanted by the incoming Brad Richards. 

Demotions are never easy, but Shaw is accepting his old role in stride. 

"I’m a team guy. I’ll do what’s best for the team and compete to the best of my ability," he told the Chicago Sun-Times.

"(Head coach Joel Quenneville) knows what he’s doing," Shaw adds. "We have a great group of guys, a real deep team. It just means we’re going to win a lot of games."

Shaw, well aware the Blackhawks' forward lines are easily blurred, will receive another opportunity at some point this season, but that humility - in pro sports - is quite refreshing.