Chicago Blackhawks to look make final adjustments before playoffs

Five weeks from now, the Stanley Cup playoffs will begin with 16 teams battling it out for the most prestigious trophy in all of sports.

In the days leading up to that point, teams like Colorado and Minnesota will fight for the right to join the fray, while others like Dallas, St. Louis and the Hawks battle for a division crown and possibly home-ice advantage in the first three rounds.

In the Hawks' case, they'll attack the next 16 games with four players who are doing their best to mesh as quickly as possible with their new teammates.

One may think these transitions would become less difficult the more often a player goes through them.

But anyone thinking that would be wrong … at least according to Chrisitan Ehrhoff.

“No it doesn't really get easier,” said the 33-year-old, who is now on his fourth team in less than four years. “It's the same thing — you've got to get to know the guys and the staff. Takes a little while, but this is a great team and a great group of guys, and they made me feel welcome right from the start.”

Andrew Desjardins said it took about 5-7 games to feel comfortable after the Hawks traded for him at last season's deadline.

Dale Weise, who played for the first time with the Hawks during a 4-2 loss at Boston on Thursday, agreed with that estimate, noting the Bruins game was kind of like an out-of-body experience.

“Yeah, you know what? It was tough for me,” Weise said. “I hadn't skated for six days before playing, so the legs and the hands weren't really where I would have liked them to be.”

Weise, remember, was playing for Montreal and had to have a visa approved before he could play in the United States. His whirlwind week included flights home to Winnipeg, then to Toronto, to Detroit to meet the Hawks and then off to Boston.

He figures to be up to speed in 7-10 days.

“Everywhere you go the systems are pretty similar, so I'll pick it up pretty quick,” Weise said.

Ehrhoff has looked right at home while paired up with Trevor van Riemsdyk. He's giving the Hawks just what they want — a puck-moving defenseman who's not afraid to join the attack and rip a shot at the net every now and then.

“Seems to be a good fit so far,” said Ehrhoff, who has an assist and 7 shots on goal in his two games.

As for Fleischmann, he looks like he's been a Hawk all season, sliding seamlessly into the third line with Teuvo Teravainen and Desjardins.

“Seems very useful in a lot of ways,” Quenneville said. “Positionally aware. He's strong on the puck. Sees plays, makes plays. Good patience with it.

“We used him on the penalty killing right off the bat. Looks good, so we have another penalty killer we can use … We're very happy with his contribution.”

Then, of course, there's Ladd — the one “newcomer” who has had to learn plenty of new faces but not a new system or coaching staff. In three games, the 30-year-old veteran already has a goal and 2 assists skating with Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw.

Once this quartet truly gets acclimated, it only figures to bolster the Hawks' already impressive chance to repeat as Stanley Cup champs. Heck, one of the newbies already thought this was the team to beat before he came aboard.

“In my opinion this is the best team in the NHL, seeing them play against Montreal earlier,” Weise said. “You can feel it as soon as you get in this locker room just why they're successful. You see everything they do is about winning.

“You can just tell from the way they practice to everything (else) — it's all about winning. It's just contagious. …

“I couldn't pick a better team to go to.”

Getting closer:

Marian Hossa and Marcus Kruger, both rehabbing from injuries, did individual drills after the Blackhawks practiced Saturday at Johnny's IceHouse West. Coach Joel Quenneville said Hossa is out for Sunday's game vs. Detroit, but the coach was “hopeful” Hossa could play Wednesday at St. Louis.

Kruger, out with a wrist injury, hasn't played in a game since Dec. 17. The versatile winger is expected to return before the regular season concludes.

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Scouting report

Blackhawks (40-21-5) vs. Detroit Red Wings (32-21-11) at United Center, 4 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

The skinny: When these teams met last week, the Hawks got another standout performance by Corey Crawford in net en route to a 5-2 victory. Artemi Panarin scored twice, Brent Seabrook added to his career-best goal total, which now stands at 13, Patrick Kane racked up 3 points to tie his career high of 88 and Andrew Ladd scored for the first time since returning to the Hawks. ... As for the Red Wings, they have not played since the loss. Coach Jeff Blashill knows his team must contain Kane if they hope to split the season series. “We've got to do a better job of not giving him as much space,” Blashill told reporters after Wednesday's loss. “It's not an easy thing to do. He's great at creating space, but you have to limit his opportunities.”

Next: St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center, 7 p.m. Wednesday

— John Dietz