Hawks GM: No need to deal right now
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NEW YORK -- Nothing Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has seen so far this season, including injuries to key people and inconsistent performances, makes him think he needs to go out and acquire another player in the immediate future.
“If anything, I don’t know if it’s anything personnel-wise we have to change,” Bowman said before Monday’s game at Madison Square Garden. “It’s just getting acclimated to the new group we have here, and bringing in another new face really wouldn’t be the answer.
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Bad timing costs Hawks in 3-2 loss to Rangers“In some ways our makeup changed vs. last year, so I think it’s everybody sliding into their responsibilities. The new guys have played very well. I’ve been happy with (Viktor) Stalberg and (Jack) Skille and (Jake) Dowell and those guys.
“I think it’s just getting some of the guys who were here last year settled into how they fit with the other new players.
“It’s not a personnel thing. It’s just a commitment as team to play the style of hockey we want to play.”
If the Hawks are short one top-six forward, Troy Brouwer playing the way he did Saturday at Minnesota would be one answer to the problem.
Brouwer earned another shot on the first line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on Monday against the Rangers.
“I think that was a good response in his last game and now we’re looking for him to move off of those levels,” coach Joel Quenneville said.
Bolland to IR:
In addition to activating Brian Campbell on Monday, the Hawks placed center Dave Bolland on injured reserve with his rib problem.
The move is retroactive to Friday, meaning the earliest Bolland could play would be Saturday at Atlanta. The minimum stay on injured reserve is seven days.
“It’s not a concern long term,” GM Stan Bowman said. “It’s short term. I’m not positive he’ll be back (Saturday), but it’s not a long-term thing. Hopefully it’ll be soon, but it’s not something we’re worried about at all. It’s a minor thing.”
Bowman said Marian Hossa is recovering well from his upper-body injury. The original word from the Hawks was that Hossa could return next week.
“He’s right on the original plan; it hasn’t changed at all,” Bowman said. “It’s not a serious injury. I don’t have a timetable on it, but he’s not too far away.”
Bickell, Boynton sit:
While defenseman Nick Boynton was a first-time scratch Monday, left wing Bryan Bickell sat for the second game in a row.
Bickell’s play has tailed off after a decent start when he scored a goal in each of the Hawks’ first two games.
“He got off to a reasonable start, but we’ve expected more from him as we’ve gone along here,” Joel Quenneville said. “He’s got to be harder to play against. That’s probably the best way to sum up his game and what he can contribute.”
Tip-ins:
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in a Monday afternoon chat with the Chicago media at his midtown office, said no decision has been made regarding the 2012 draft, which is believed headed to the United Center.
“Our special-events department is probably in discussions with a number of clubs,” Bettman said. …
Defenseman Duncan Keith was named the league’s third star of the week with a goal and 6 assists in three games. …Ratings for the Hawks games on Comcast SportsNet were up 77 percent from the first month of last season.
