Versteeg's return means Blackhawks lineup changes
The Blackhawks' lines they are a' changing.
With a full complement of players at his disposal for the first time all season - including Kris Versteeg - coach Joel Quenneville opted for a slightly different look Monday at practice.
Versteeg skated on the second line with Andrew Shaw and Patrick Kane, and if Quenneville deems him ready for Tuesday's game against Philadelphia, it looks like that's where he will start.
"I think we're going to plan for that," Versteeg said of being back in the lineup against the Flyers. "Obviously it's Q's call in the end if I go in, but I'm going to do everything I can to be ready."
Unless something happens at Tuesday's morning skate, Quenneville made it sound as if it's a go to get his veteran forward in the lineup for the first time this season.
"He looks like he has some real good pace right now," Quenneville said. "I'm hoping he can come in and add that element to our team. But we'll see. His play will probably dictate where and how much time he's going to get."
Versteeg is looking forward to making his season debut alongside Kane and Shaw,
"Obviously, Kaner's world class and he can create so much on his own, so just try to get open for him and get myself in scoring positions," Versteeg said. "And with Shawzy, he goes to the net, he gets loose pucks, so it's try to be an asset to that line and do whatever I can if I go in and play with them."
Versteeg on the second line means Brandon Saad, whose only points this season (3 assists) all came in the Hawks' win over Buffalo, drops to the third line, joining Brad Richards and Bryan Bickell.
Quenneville said the shake-up of the Saad-Kane-Shaw line was a simple matter of effectiveness.
"I haven't seen possession; they've had more shifts in their own end the last couple of games," he said. "I didn't mind the first couple of games. The last two haven't been as effective as we've seen."
The third line has been struggling all season, with Bickell and Richards combining for just 1 point through four games. Saad, who will switch over to the right side. is looking to add a little spark come puck drop Tuesday night.
"I'm just going to try to play the same way," he said. "Richards, I played a little with him at the start of the year, and Bicks I'm familiar with, too, so I think as a line we can do some real damage and I'm looking forward to getting it going."
Ben Smith, who had skated with Bickell and Richards, will drop to the fourth line, joining Daniel Carcillo and Marcus Kruger, meaning Jeremy Morin will be the odd man out, at least for the time being.
"I don't really know the lineup right now," Morin said. "I'm just coming to practice and hopefully I'm in the lineup. If I'm not, I'll work my way to get back in.
"It's always hard to get out there and play well, and I definitely think I can be playing better. It's my goal. I have to earn my ice time and keep working at it."
With Quenneville's penchant for switching things up at a moment's notice, there's no doubt Morin will get plenty of chances to earn ice time down the road.
"Mo has been fine," Quenneville said. "I think every game there's been a lot of special teams, and all of a sudden he misses out on that rotation of that line.
"Krugs and Benny, when they get together with Carcillo, that line's played pretty well. So, Mo's been fine, but he certainly hasn't got a ton of ice time to get a fair assessment."
mspellman@dailyherald.com
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WGN-AM 720
The skinny: It took awhile, but the Flyers (1-2-2) finally registered their first victory of the regular season, edging Dallas 6-5 in overtime Saturday. Defenseman Braydon Coburn may return to the lineup tonight for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury in the season opener. The Hawks, meanwhile, should have Kris Versteeg (lower body) in the lineup for the first time this season. Corey Crawford gets the start in net for the Hawks.
Next: Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, 7 p.m. Thursday
- Mike Spellman