Mills latest Blackhawk to get shot at replacing Frolik

The Blackhawks still are trying to replace Michael Frolik as a fourth-line penalty killer.

It’s a search that has taken them through Joakim Nordstrom, Ben Smith and Brandon Saad.

Now Brad Mills gets his chance.

“Millsy is an experienced guy; he’s been around,” Quenneville said of the 30-year-old right wing. “We thought he had a real good camp and had a real nice presence at Rockford toward the end of last year. He’s a right shot, can take faceoffs, kill penalties … he can fill that niche that we’re looking for.

“Our PK has been a work in progress this year. It hasn’t been as predictable or as dependable as we saw last year. We’re trying to nail it. Millsy is going to get a chance, and we can use Saad there as well, but that one spot we’re still looking to fill.”

Mills was signed to a one-year contract Friday before being recalled from Rockford.

“I kind of felt this was coming, and that helps to motivate you,” he said. “I think what I did here in the preseason and in training camp kind of gave the coaches and the guys here who haven’t seen me play a taste of my game. I think I showed them what I can bring, just a hard-nosed, intense, physical guy.”

Mills had 1 career NHL goal before Saturday — against the Hawks and Marty Turco in the United Center.

“This building, hopefully, is a good place for me,” Mills said.

Staying hot:Jeremy Morin also was in the lineup following his Friday recall from Rockford and looking to pick up where he left off in the minors, where he had 4 goals and 4 assists in the first eight games.#147;Mo#146;s had a real nice start to the season down there,#148; Joel Quenneville said. #147;When you were looking at who#146;s going to make our team coming out of camp, there were four or five guys all with a chance. They were all comparable exiting camp as far as who was deserving.#147;He gives us a little bit of something. He#146;s got speed and quickness and can score goals. Things happen when he#146;s out there.#148;Morin went down with a good attitude, and it paid off.#147;It#146;s always nice to get that call and come here and put on that uniform,#148; he said. #147;Now I need to prove I can play at this level. You want to be up here; that#146;s the goal.#148;Handzus out:The Hawks will be without center Michal Handzus for #147;more than a couple days,#148; according to Joel Quenneville, with an upper-body injury. #147;He could be out for a little bit; we#146;ll see,#148; Quenneville said.Handzus has battled wrist problems since last year in the playoffs.With Handzus out at least the next two games #151; Monday at Minnesota and Tuesday at home against Ottawa #151; Marcus Kruger was expected to get the majority of playing time as second-line center.#147;Krugs is a reliable guy,#148; Quenneville said. #147;Offensively, I don#146;t think we#146;ve given him too many opportunities to play up there, but he#146;s capable. I think that line was OK (Handzus, Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane), but not a lot was happening there. Hopefully we can get a little spark there.#148;Upon further review:Consider goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on notice that he needs to be better than he was in Thursday#146;s 6-5 overtime loss at Tampa Bay.#147;We#146;ll definitely swipe (the slate) clean, but when you see what happened we#146;re definitely not pleased, knowing we#146;re expecting more,#148; Joel Quenneville said. #147;Let#146;s move forward in a positive way but knowing that#146;s not good enough.#148;