Bickell: “I want to be a Blackhawk forever”
After being placed on waivers by the Blackhawks on Friday morning, a shocked Bryan Bickell said he spent the rest of the day by himself to regroup.
No team claimed Bickell and the big man remained in a city he doesn't want to ever leave.
“I'm just taking it as an awakening. Start a fire,” Bickell told reporters before the Hawks' 4-0 win to Dallas on Saturday in their preseason finale at the United Center. “I'm looking to play tonight to really show 'em that I can get that game back. I want to be a Blackhawk forever.”
Bickell delivered a big hit during his first shift, then fired a shot to the high right side of the net at the 9:30 mark of the first period. Dallas goalie Antti Niemi snagged it and Bickell showed a bit of frustration afterward.
Bickell was credited with 5 hits. Now that Bickell has cleared waivers, the Hawks can send him to Rockford if they choose to do so. If, however, he plays 10 NHL games or 30 days pass, the Hawks would have to place him on waivers again before they could assign him to the IceHogs. Coach Joel Quenneville, though, gave no indication that a demotion to the AHL was imminent.
“He's going to start here, he's here and we want him to be a part of it,” Quenneville said. “He'll get the opportunity.”
Strong debut:
After missing most of camp with an upper-body injury, Artemi Panarin played in his first preseason game Saturday, looking completely at ease while skating on the second line with Patrick Kane and fellow Russian Artem Anisimov.
Panarin showed off some dramatic stickhandling ability in the first period, weaving in and out of traffic and eventually setting up a good scoring chance that went for naught. In the second period, Panarin rifled a one-timer that Marian Hossa whacked into the net out of midair for a power-play goal that gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead at 12:46.
To cap things off, Panarin registered yet another assist early in the third period when his rocket bounced off goaltender Antti Niemi, allowing Kane to zip one into the net for a 2-0 Hawks lead at 1:42.
“I like what I saw,” Hossa said. “He's got unbelievable skill. I kind of knew it before. People here in Chicago are going to have a good time watching this guy.”
Said coach Joel Quenneville: “(He's) got a terrific shot, got some real good instincts. Like that line. I think he could be fun to watch. Kid's got some a real nice gift of finding pucks and getting it off quickly.”
Nothing given:
Joel Quenneville said Marko Dano being sent to Rockford was mostly a reflection of the Hawks making players earn a spot on the roster.
The coach said he expects the 20-year-old winger to be in the NHL at some point this season.
“Eventually he'll find a way to be here and then we'll work from there,” Quenneville said.
Slapshots:
Corey Crawford was slated to play all of Saturday's win over the Stars, but the Hawks' goalie was pulled midway through the second period. Coach Joel Quenneville said Crawford “was a little tight” and it was a “precautionary” move. … Quenneville also said the team is talking about putting defenseman Michal Rozsival on long-term injured reserve.