Hinostroza returns to Hawks full of confidence

When the Blackhawks assigned Vinnie Hinostroza to the Rockford IceHogs in late February, he didn't pout, grouse or moan about his plight.

No, the rookie forward used it as an opportunity to improve his game and to try and reach a consistency that will keep him in the NHL for the long term.

"Any time you're a young player and you're not getting that much ice time up here, you need to work on a few things," said Hinostroza, whom the Hawks called back up Thursday. "It's easy to go down there and really improve on that and get your confidence back.

"Going down there, I didn't really take it as a negative. I just looked at it as another steppingstone and use it to get better."

Hinostroza is not slated to play tonight against Columbus, but he should see some action in at least one of the Hawks' final four regular-season games. Hinostroza played 15 games in Rockford, scoring 3 goals and recording 4 assists. He has 6 goals and 8 assists in 48 games with the Hawks.

Once he does return to game action, Hinostroza expects it to be a seamless transition.

"Yeah. I was with these guys for a few months," he said. "It's great to see them. I went home to Hartzy (Ryan Hartman) yesterday and his dog, because we're roommates, so that was nice. And then just coming in the locker room, seeing all these guys, it's great. I'm just glad to be back."

Looking toward the playoffs, which begin in two weeks, it may be difficult for Hinostroza to crack a lineup suddenly overstuffed with capable forwards.

"We've got some depth here and not everybody can play right now," Quenneville said. "But Vinnie gives us an ingredient that we like, and that's quickness and speed and tenacity."

Anisimov update:

Joel Quenneville said he is confident that Artem Anisimov, who injured his foot at Montreal on March 14, will be ready to return for the playoffs. Quenneville believes Anisimov may "push it a little bit" when the Hawks embark on their final road trip of the season next week.

Scream and shout:

About 2,000 kids who participated in the NHL's Future Goals program attended Friday's morning skate at the United Center. Patrick Kane, Ryan Hartman, Nick Schmaltz, Michal Kempny and others tossed pucks into the stands at random times. At least twice, Kane looked like the lead singer of a rock band as he implored the masses to make more noise.

"It's funny when you show 'em a puck that potentially you're going to throw in the crowd, they get all excited," Kane said. "It was cool. A little bit different for a morning skate. Keep things fresh and interesting."

Slap shots:

Tickets for the NHL draft will go on sale on Friday, April 7 at noon. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. The draft is June 23 and 24 at the United Center. … With 2 assists at Pittsburgh, Patrick Kane became the fourth player in Blackhawks history to reach 50 assists four times. The others were Stan Mikita, Jeremy Roenick and Denis Savard.

He said it:

"It's not as quiet at my place anymore."

Ryan Hartman on Vinnie Hinostroza moving back in after Hinostroza was called up Thursday.