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First, I will offer up a mea culpa of sorts. I didn't think Brandon Saad was going to be this good, this fast. Some others did, I disagreed with them. Point conceded.
But, after two straight games in which the rookie winger has continued the dramatic upward arc in his play—and results—the question needs to be asked: how good is he?
And how good can he become?
In answering the first question, what Saad is today is a very good offensive winger with some two-way ability. And that's a lot for a 20 year old. His game is based on three things: speed, some nice one on one moves and a good sense of where to be to make plays. Those basic building blocks will give him a long—and likely productive NHL career.
How good can he become?
This is where things get dicey. Some of the more hyperbolic Hawk followers have already crowned Saad the next Marian Hossa. This 'hysteria' likely gained momentum yesterday when Patrick Kane and Hossa swapped spots, and Saad remained on the first line with Kane and Jonathan Toews.
OK, hold on there kids.
This line of thinking is neither completely fair to Saad nor respectful or appreciative of what Hossa is and has been—a likely Hall of Fame winger.
Does Saad have the same physical tools Hossa has? There might be an argument as far as skating, but not in terms of strength.
Their hands are comparable. Although Hossa's combination of hands and strength makes him—at this point—much more effective along the boards and in controlling the puck in open ice than Saad is.
And while Saad thinks the game well, especially from the opponent's blue line in to the net, there are few players in the game who think it better than Hossa over 200 feet of ice.
When the Hawks play Detroit, who shadows Pavel Datsyuk? Hossa. And in hockey, defense matters as much as offense.
Other comparisons I have heard include Bobby Ryan. Not bad except, again, Ryan is more physical. Or Ryan Smyth, except Saad has more wiggle in his game and will likely score more.
The other thing to remember about Saad is he has tended to have ebbs and flows to his production. He gets very hot, as he is now and as he did at Saginaw in the OHL last year, and very cold, as he did the first part of this season in Rockford and the first 15 games or so with the Hawks.
But again, he's young. And we also have to remember, he's playing with one of the league's better centers (not to mention some pretty good wingers on the other flank)—and as a result, a fair amount of his goals are tap-in's or nearly that.
As I look at all his tools, I think it's fair to say he can at least be a 50-60 point, plus player. And a difference maker in terms of speed and disruption on the forecheck.
The player I have come to liken him to is a younger Martin Havlat, though Havlat is likely the better playmaker. What is interesting there is that Saad outweighs Havlat by ten pounds or so. And you do want to see a little more physicality from him. Will that come? Likely, as he gains confidence and more strength, it will.
The 'little things,' the smart, nifty plays that make Hossa a great player, are the things you want to see from Saad going forward. And those kinds of things only come through practice, focus and dedication.
And then, if he can put all that together—with a professional work ethic every night (a la . . . Hossa), the sky's the limit for this kid.
All for now,
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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