New center makes debut in Hawks 2-0 loss
Center Peter Regin made his Blackhawks debut on Friday at Phoenix after being acquired with forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard from the New York Islanders late Thursday night for a fourth-round draft pick in 2014.
Bouchard was assigned to Rockford along with center Brandon Pirri, who had been a healthy scratch at Anaheim on Wednesday.
Regin centered the second line for Brandon Saad and Kris Versteeg in a 2-0 loss to the Coyotes that made the Hawks 3-1-2 on their six-game road trip.
The trade added to the Hawks' depth and filled a need at center, although time will tell if Regin is the answer on the second line.
Regin played 11:39 in the loss with 1 shot on goal and was 3-for-6 on faceoffs.
“We'll see how he does,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville told reporters. “Defensively and offensively, we're looking forward to seeing how he fits in. He has some speed, and we'll maybe try him on the power play.”
Regin said he was happy to be able to play in a game with his new team before the two-week break for the Olympics.
“System-wise and things like that, that will all catch up to you,” Quenneville said. “The excitement of coming to a new team should help him. We can adjust as we go along. Just play, do what you do best, and he'll adapt quickly.”
Both Regin and Bouchard will be unrestricted free agents after the season. The Islanders are paying half of Regin's $750,000 salary and half of Bouchard's $2 million salary.
The 27-year-old Regin appeared in 44 games this season with New York and had 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists).
The Herning, Denmark, native had 62 points in 222 career NHL games with Ottawa and New York.
Bouchard, 29, had 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) with the Islanders. He has 356 career points in 593 NHL games with Minnesota and New York.
The Hawks fell behind 1-0 on an early power-play goal by Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle. Brandon Bollig was in the penalty box for tripping Shane Doan when the Coyotes won a faceoff and Yandle beat Corey Crawford with a slap shot.
The Coyotes made it 2-0 late in the second period on a power-play goal by winger Radim Vrbata. It was a 5-on-3 created by a penalty to Saad for goaltender interference and a selfish unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by Michal Rozsival.
The Hawks played without Patrick Kane, who flew home to Buffalo to attend his grandfather's funeral.
“Kaner gives you so many different looks and options,” Quenneville said. “Obviously, when you're missing a player as dynamic as Kaner it's definitely going to be an absence.”
The Hawks also were without defenseman Johnny Oduya for the second straight game with a lower body injury. They beat Anaheim 2-0 on Wednesday without Oduya, who Quenneville said would still be going to the Olympics to play for Sweden.
“Johnny Oduya has probably been in our lineup every game and we got through it,” Quenneville said. “Short term, I think you find a way to get through it.”
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