Odds remain stacked against impressive Saad

While Brandon Saad continues to impress everyone at Blackhawks training camp, it still doesn’t mean the 18-year-old left wing is going to make the team.

Saad didn’t look out of place playing with Jonathan Toews in the third period of Friday’s 3-2 win over Washington, getting an assist and the game-winning goal.

But making the team remains a tall order for the 2011 second-round draft pick.

“Our coaching staff and our management team, they’re doing a great job putting our team together,” Toews said. “That’s what training camp is for, cases like (Saad’s). Everyone thinks the team is made up, but in a situation like this it really isn’t.

“Good for him. He’s competing and not giving up on anything. Guys like that deserve an opportunity and a chance to continue to show what they can do. The tough part is you have to pick 20 or so guys and you can’t keep everybody. Who knows what’s going to happen.”

Saad is expected to get a fourth opportunity to play in Sunday’s exhibition game at Detroit.

“He’s got his head up, he can skate and he has good hands,” Toews said. “He’s a good player and he has confidence. He’s not afraid to go out there and he wants to learn. Evey shift he’s trying to do something and not taking any shifts off.”

Saad said his goal is to make the team but that he won’t dwell on his chances.

“I’m trying not to think about it,” Saad said.

It’s not often a teen-ager can crack an NHL lineup coming out of juniors. Patrick Kane did it, but he was the No. 1 pick in the draft. Toews made it at 19 coming out of college. Nick Leddy stuck with the Hawks out of training camp last fall as an 18-year-old but was quickly sent to Rockford.

“I guess you just have to have the right mindset,” Toews said. “For guys like Kaner and myself, coming in here we didn’t want to put too much pressure on oursewlves, ourselves, but at the same time you’re not going to move over for the older guys.

“You have to have the confidence that you can play against them and fit right in. You have that respect for them in the locker, but when you get out their on ice it’s anybody’s game.”

Roster trimmed:

The Hawks sent forward Rob Flick, defenseman Brian Fahey and goalie Alec Richards to Rockford on Saturday, leaving the training camp roster at 38.

More cuts are expected after Sunday’s game at Detroit.

Veteran winger Brandon Segal was put on waivers, likely for the purpose of sending him to Rockford.

Goalie Cristobal Huet also was put on waivers as a formality. Huet, who is again playing in Switzerland, has one year remaining on his contract with the Hawks at $5.6 million that does not count against the salary cap.

Tune in:

Sunday’s game at Detroit will be televised by WGN-TV (Channel 9), beginning at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on radio as well over WGN-AM (720).