Consistency key for impressive Hawks rookies
There are no guarantees that Andrew Shaw, Jimmy Hayes and Dylan Olsen will stick around very long, but the three rookies aren’t hurting their chances for extended stays with the Blackhawks.
“It’s nice when you get results like we have,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “The difference with guys coming up is sustaining it and the consistency in their game. We like the depth they give us and it also boosts our team. We’ll find out going forward if the consistency is there.”
Shaw, Hayes and Olsen have been filling in for the suspended Daniel Carcillo and the injured Marcus Kruger and Steve Montador.
“I think it just bodes well for the team and organization going forward,” Quenneville said. “I think all three guys in a short amount of time have been very good.”
Shaw was at center against Colorado on Friday following his strong game at Philadelphia in his NHL debut.
“He seems to do everything right offensively and defensively and brings us an edge,” Quenneville said. “He does a lot of things you appreciate, how competitive it is.”
The 6-foot-6 Hayes had 2 goals in his first three games.
“He’s very effective taking puck to the net,” Quenneville said. “I like the way he uses his size.”
In the case of Olsen, the Hawks have had success in the last three seasons bringing defensemen up later in the season and seeing results, like with Nick Leddy last year and Niklas Hjalmarsson in 2009.
“It’s a tough position to crack right off the bat — getting some experience and seeing games and seeing the battle areas and reading situations game to game, becoming a pro,” Quenneville said. “We knew in training camp we liked what we saw (in Olsen), and that his upside was in the right spot.”
Power ratings:The Hockey News has come out with its annual list of the 100 people of power and influence with only Jonathan Toews making the rankings among Hawks players or management.Toews checks in at No. 55, which is a drop of last year when he ranked 19 after winning the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medal.Pittsburgh#146;s Sidney Crosby was first on the list followed by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Players Association executive director Don Fehr, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHL senior vice president of player Safety Brendan Shanahan.Health beat:On the good news front, Marcus Kruger and Steve Montador skated Friday morning, Kruger for the first time since suffering his second concussion in a week on Dec. 26 against Columbus.Kruger remains on injured reserve along with Montador (upper body). Montador is eligible to come off for Sunday#146;s game with Detroit if he is healthy enough to play.