CHICAGO _ Andrew Shaw knows how fortunate he was to play in Montreal, a gorgeous cosmopolitan city with a Canadiens franchise that is the most storied in NHL history.
Over three seasons, he gave the Habs all he had. But Shaw couldn't give something he didn't have with him.
While his talent and insatiable will to compete were in Montreal, Shaw's heart never really left Chicago.
"Guys always joked in the dressing room about cutting the cord, but it was obviously tough," he said. "Five successful years in Chicago. It was a team that took a chance on me in the draft and gave me an opportunity my first year in pro, then winning two Stanley Cups.
"Becoming friends with all those guys in the locker room, it was really tough to let go. I never really did. I had to move on, but (Chicago) was a part of me. I was never going to forget it and move on completely."
As excited as Blackhawks fans may be to get Shaw back, it doesn't come close to the thrill Shaw received last month upon learning the Hawks had reacquired him for three draft picks.
"It's something you wish for," Shaw said. "You don't actually think it's going to come true. It did and I'm excited, I'm happy. (I'm) a lot different from when I left three years ago. I have a wife, a kid and I've matured a little bit. Chicago's still going to get the same hockey player but maybe a little bit of a different person."
When Shaw was traded to the Canadiens in 2016 for a pair of draft picks _ one of which the Hawks used to take Alex DeBrincat _ it was because he was due a healthy raise as a restricted free agent. Despite former coach Joel Quenneville calling him an "irreplaceable" player _ a compliment Shaw said he still hasn't forgotten _ he became a salary-cap casualty just like many Hawks before him.
Times changed and this summer the Hawks were in a much more favorable position with their cap. The six-year, $23.4 million contract the Canadiens gave Shaw was no longer an extravagance the Hawks couldn't afford.
However, the biggest factor in reacquiring Shaw was that Quenneville's assessment proved to be true. Shaw was, in fact, irreplaceable. Over the last three seasons, the Hawks didn't have anyone like him. They lacked the toughness and fearless play that was Shaw's calling card and endeared him to fans.
Since he has been gone, the Hawks have made one postseason appearance and haven't won a single playoff game. They've all too frequently become a punching bag for much of the NHL without the ability to punch back.
Shaw plans to punch back. And he plans to enjoy it when his teammates do as well.
"When I see a guy block a shot, it gets me going," Shaw said. "I see a guy make a hit, it gets me going. I see a guy stand in front of the net taking a beating just for his team to score, that sort of stuff gets me going."
Only six players remain from when Shaw was last with the Hawks _ Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Erik Gustafsson and Corey Crawford. The NHL is a close-knit fraternity of players, so Shaw has met a few of the Hawks who have arrived since he left. But does he know them? Not really. That will start to change this weekend at the Blackhawks Convention when he also begins to reacquaint himself with Hawks fans.
"It's going to be awesome," Shaw said. "It's going to be overwhelming, for sure. But that's all part of it. I'm excited to see everyone, I'm excited to see all the fans. Maybe it's like throwing gasoline on a fire. Maybe that fire's going to get a little bit bigger."
If Shaw was fire with just a speck of talent, he would still be toiling in the minors, or perhaps some beer league. But Shaw has always been able to provide enough offense, a testament to his willingness to camp out in front of the net. Last season, he scored a career-high 47 points in just 63 games.
Therein lies the rub. Shaw's willingness to play with reckless abandon finally came with a price. After missing only 15 games with the Hawks in 4 { seasons, Shaw missed 64 games the last three seasons to an assortment of injuries.
Even so, Shaw doesn't plan to scale back his frenetic play. His plan, as always, is to player harder than his opponents and serve as an example for his teammates.
"If I don't see it, I make sure I go and (play hard) so others can see it," he said. "It would make me want to do it more. You need that. I'm going to do it no matter what.
"If it helps people get into the game, get involved and fuel their fire then it's going to be a fun year."
