Schmaltz sent down after Blackhawks call up AHL goalie
For the better part of two months, Nick Schmaltz, Tyler Motte, Ryan Hartman and Vinnie Hinostroza were living in a Chicago hotel.
The temporary arrangement sent a clear message to the four Blackhawks rookies: Yes, you made the team out of training camp, but fail to perform and a demotion to the AHL is entirely possible.
Well, when the Hawks returned from the circus trip in late November, all four moved into apartments, with Motte and Schmaltz rooming together and Hartman and Hinostroza rooming together.
"It's just nice to finally get the stuff out of the car, finally put it on hangers in the closet and sleep in the same bed," Motte said.
As coach Joel Quenneville always says, though, things change quickly in the hockey business. Unfortunately for Motte, he lost his roommate Sunday when the Hawks assigned Schmaltz to Rockford and called up IceHogs goalie Lars Johansson.
As opposed to Hartman and Hinostroza, the 20-year-old Schmaltz was never a healthy scratch, but he scored just 1 goal with 3 assists in 26 games while taking just 16 shots on goal and averaging 11:47 of ice time. While Schmaltz flashed plenty of skill and speed, his indecisiveness at times was apparent and the Hawks figured more regular playing time in Rockford would be beneficial.
Motte said both he and Schmaltz were disappointed, but that his friend took the news as good as can be expected.
"Obviously nobody wants to be sent down, especially making the team out of camp as rookies," Motte said. "I think he's taking it the right way. …
"He knows there's opportunity to go down there, play more minutes, play with the puck and play a bigger role for that team. He knows if he goes down and plays well he could be right back up here."
Said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville: "We want him playing … and getting the offensive side of his game going."
Welcome aboard:
Until Corey Crawford returns in 2-3 weeks after having his appendix removed Saturday, Scott Darling's backup is Lars Johansson. The 29-year-old played the last three seasons in the Swedish Hockey League, and the Hawks signed him last May.
Johansson, who was 6-7-1 with a .911 save percentage with Rockford, said he'd be a bit jittery but also ready to go if called upon.
"If something were to happen, absolutely I would be nervous, (and) excited for any new thing my whole career," Johansson said before the Hawks fell to Winnipeg at the United Center on Sunday. "It would be exciting most of all. … Just (want) to make myself prepared as good as I can now if that were to happen."
Slap shots:
Gustav Forsling returned to the lineup Sunday after being a healthy scratch in the two previous games. ... The Hawks were are just 4-for-47 on the power play in the last 17 games. They went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Jets. ... Duncan Keith is on pace for 52 assists.