Rozsival key piece of Hawks' defensive puzzle

The Blackhawks have eight defensemen on their roster, and coach Joel Quenneville said Monday he doesn't know if that will change anytime soon.

So, in theory, that's eight players for six spots.

In reality it, though, it's more like four players fighting for two spots because the Hawks' top-four D-men are absolutely etched in stone.

With the news that veteran defenseman Michal Rozsival (upper body) could return as soon as Wednesday night against Calgary, combined with the impressive play thus far of rookie Trevor van Riemsdyk, the more precise reality is that David Runblad and Kyle Cumiskey will be left fighting for time when Rozsival isn't in the lineup.

And over the last two years, that has been a significant chunk of time. The 36-year old hasn't played in more than 60 regular-season games since the 2010-11 season.

In each of the last two seasons, Rozsival has played in just more than half of the regular-season games while basically splitting time with Sheldon Brookbank.

"It was just the coach's decision and the player personnel we had and kind of keep everybody in the mix just in case anything happens, everybody is ready to go," Rozsival said.

Just how will Quenneville use his veteran defenseman this season?

It all depends.

"His play will dictate how much he's going to play and how often and how regular," Quenneville said. "I think he was definitely good enough to be playing regular every game for us the last couple years. We'll see how he does."

And how well Rozsival's body holds up to the grind.

"His play or his body, yeah, either one," Quenneville said. "It might go hand in hand at this stage."

Rozsival, a veteran of more than 800 NHL games, knows better than to try to predict what his coach has in store for him.

"I guess we're just going to have to wait and see and see what the coaches are seeing and what they want from me," he said. "Obviously, as far as I'm concerned, I would like to be there in all situations, but I understand my role on this team.

"Whatever it's going to be I'm ready for it. I'm ready for anything like I have been the last couple of years."

In Rozsival's absence, Runblad, acquired in a trade with Phoenix in March, has been in the lineup for the first two regular-season games. In Saturday's win over Buffalo he played just more than 11 minutes and finished with a plus-2 rating.

"It's been going all right," he said. "I know I've got more. I know I can play better. I've just got to keep playing and get into it. I haven't been playing much the last two years."

His coach sympathizes but makes no guarantees.

"He hasn't played a lot, and he didn't play a lot in these two games," Quenneville said. "I think defensively, no matter who you are, the more you play the better you're going to play or feel more comfortable.

"At the same time, it's almost like the argument we had the last couple of years: You've got Rozy and Brooksy sitting out almost every other game, sometimes two of the three rotation to get in the lineup as well.

"You've got to take whatever you can get and then take advantage of it and hopefully you get more stability and that opportunity grows based on how you perform."

On a championship-caliber team like the Blackhawks, that's the ultimate reality.

mspellman@dailyherald.com