CHICAGO -- Center Antoine Vermette was one of the best players available at the NHL Business Deadline, but his accessory for the Chicago Blackhawks hasn't provided much of a boost.

The hope, regarding Vermette and the Blackhawks, is that he becomes a bigger difference-maker in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Work in progress," Chicago mentor Joel Quenneville said when inquired about Vermette recently. "Scoring a goal might help him be more confident with the puck. He has improving as far as knowing the knowledge of the routes and where [his] linemates are. That's what we're looking for, [and] possibly offensively get a goal, and be a little more confident in the puck area."

Vermette's overall performance has been underwhelming after the Arizona Coyotes exchanged him to Chicago on March 1 for defenseman Klas Dahlbeck and a first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.Bobby Hull Jersey Vermette, who is able to become an unrestricted free agent on July One, has provided virtually no offense for your Blackhawks; he had two points in his first 11 games, aids in a game against the San Jose Sharks.

His puck-possession figures improved slightly with Chicago, il, but the results from that improvement have not translated into rating.

Vermette came to the Blackhawks with a reputation as a faceoff expert, but he has not excelled in that section. He won 56 % of his faceoffs for the Coyotes this coming year, but is about 5 percentage points less after the business. The decline resulted in a current shift to right side on the second line to get a stretch of five games, and also Vermette has played sparingly on special teams.Glean Hall Jersey

"I want to bring about the team," said Vermette, which hadn't played either wing since his first 5 NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators. "If you inquired about, I'm certainly more comfortable with center position. That's my natural position. I've been playing there pretty much all my career, so there is a preference presently there. But it is what it is."

The Blackhawks needed Vermette to be able to step up offensively. They've been without wounded right wing Patrick Kane given that surgery to repair his still left clavicle Feb. 25, and Vermette had been supposed soften the setback.

That's not exactly how it worked out, however the playoffs are ahead. There's time for Vermette to help the Blackhawks help to make another deep postseason run.Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #2 Duncan Keith Premier Green St Pattys Day With 2013 Stanley Cup Finals Patch Jersey It comes down to his experience as a heart.

Unlike last season, when Chi town lost a seven-game series towards the Los Angeles Kings in the American Conference Final, the Blackhawks are well stocked down the middle. Vermette is just one of nine forwards who can perform center.

Brad Richards, one of those centers, skipped the final three games from the regular season with an upper-body damage but will be ready for the first collection. It's unclear what position Vermette will play, but Quenneville said there's a chance for him at heart. Either way, it's an opportunity to earn a championship that had not been available in Arizona.

"It's very exciting being a player," Vermette said "[The 2010 nfl playoffs are] obviously the place you want to be. We can have high expectations away from us, for sure. We don't need to get carried away. There's a lot of good teams out there, but this is a really good group."

Author: Brian Hedger | NHL.com Correspondent