Poised Schmaltz looks to be centering presence on Hawks second line
Hockey fans know having a deep, four-line rotation is absolutely necessary in today's NHL if a team expects to make a deep postseason run.
That's why if Nick Schmaltz can center the Blackhawks' second line - as he's done with aplomb the last two days at training camp - it will make coach Joel Quenneville's squad that much more dangerous.
"He's come in here and he's had an excellent camp," Quenneville said Sunday after watching Schmaltz score twice in the day's second scrimmage.
Granted, it's only practice games against his teammates - some of whom won't be here in a couple of weeks - but it's easy to see how much more relaxed and poised Schmaltz is on the ice. The second-year forward is using his speed, vision and, somewhat surprisingly, his strength to open the eyes of coaches and teammates.
"I feel stronger with the puck, feel a little faster," Schmaltz said. "I thought I had a pretty good summer, so I'm excited to show what I did … and translate it to the ice."
If Schmaltz can keep this up - and improve drastically on faceoffs (31 percent) - the Hawks could roll out a top nine that looks something like this:
Line 1: Brandon Saad-Jonathan Toews-Richard Panik
Line 2: Patrick Sharp-Schmaltz-Patrick Kane
Line 3: Ryan Hartman-Artem Anisimov-John Hayden
"Schmaltzy skating the way he has the last couple days it certainly gets your attention," Quenneville said. "It gives us a deeper look and a little bit more balance on our lineup.
"Arty is very useful in a lot of ways; reliable, big centerman. Schmaltz looks like he's quicker, looks a little bigger as well. … (His) speed can back people off him through the middle of the ice."
Being taken off Kane's line might rankle some veterans, but Anisimov said he wouldn't be disappointed by such a move.
"No, no," he said. "I'm just going to go out and play and try to score goals and make plays.
"Every team you need good depth of centermen and have a strong three lines or four lines."
More strong play:
Michal Kempny and Gustav Forsling went through some typical rookie growing pains last season, but both D-men have been solid in the first few days of camp. Kempny hasn't been afraid to let a few shots go, and Forsling has been active on the attack, often looking to push the pace and find open wingers in the offensive zone.
"Well they're going to have that naturally more comfortable feel out there, just being in the fact that they've been in the league now for a year," Duncan Keith said Saturday. "As a defenseman, we're all in it together. It's not necessarily what year you're in. I always think, even for myself, less can be more. Simple is a lot of times the right thing to do. That's the process for all of us defensemen."
Vague on Rozsival:
Michal Rozsival failed his physical last week because the defenseman has an upper-body injury, Joel Quenneville said. The Hawks coach wouldn't say if Rozsival is still suffering the effects of a punch he took to the head from Anaheim's Nick Ritchie late last season.
"I'm not exactly sure if that's it," said Quenneville, who also wouldn't try to guess if Rozsival might miss the season. "I don't know the defining moment, but it's upper body right now."