Roenick pulling for Kane to be star
The Blackhawks' past and future will collide on the ice tonight when rookie Patrick Kane plays against Jeremy Roenick for the first time as the San Jose Sharks visit the United Center.
It's a notable meeting in that some feel the 18-year-old Kane is the most dynamic rookie the Hawks have had from an offensive standpoint since Roenick burst onto the scene in 1989.
"I actually watched some highlights of Kane from the other night (against Detroit), and he looked really talented," Roenick said. "I hope the kid does really, really well because this town deserves another person and another group to come along and electrify things.
"To have the first pick like that, it's a perfect situation for a kid to come in like that. This kid could have this town back up on its feet and excited about the Blackhawks again."
Nothing would please Roenick more than to see the Hawks vital again -- which is how he left them in 1996 when he was traded to Phoenix in one of the biggest blunders in franchise history.
"It hasn't been a hockey town for the last 12 years, but it definitely is," Roenick said. "People love hockey around here. They're dying for it."
Kane was excited to hear that Roenick was impressed by his play.
"He said that?" asked Kane. "That's great. As a kid he was a guy you knew about. One thing about him is he makes the game fun."
Worth watching: He's only 24 years old, but that's enough to make Tuomo Ruutu the old man on the line with teenagers Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
"I've told them the oldest thing on that line is my knees," joked Ruutu.
The line featuring three of the Hawks' last seven No. 1 draft picks clicked well in training-camp scrimmages, turning in some dazzling plays.
"They're both great players, gifted guys, and are really fun to play with," Ruutu said. "We make give-and-goes all the time. They really see the ice well."
This will be the NHL debut for Toews, the 19-year-old center who has been out since the second preseason game with a broken right index finger.
"You've got skill at every position on that line," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "You've got Kane that's going to make plays, and you've got the work habits of Ruuty and Jonathan.
"It should be a real good line. Five-on-5 they're going to be tough to play against, I know that. It'll be fun to watch."
No ordinary Joe: Last season, San Jose center Joe Thornton ate up the Hawks with 2 goals and 7 assists in four games, all Sharks victories.
Denis Savard wouldn't say how he planned to defend Thornton, but it's a good guess Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith will be on the ice most of the time against Thornton and linemate Jonathan Cheechoo.
"We know that's a great line," Savard said. "I mean, they've got everything you need in a line with speed, a playmaker that's probably the best in the league (Thornton) and a guy (Cheechoo) that's probably one of the best goal scorers in the league. We're aware of it."
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
The skinny: The Hawks are off to a 1-1 start and have allowed only 4 goals in two games. The power play is 0-for-8. "We're going to get it going; I'm not concerned," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. The Sharks are 1-1-1 on their season-opening four-game road trip. Joe Thornton, Jeremy Roenick and Ryane Clowe each have 2 goals, but goalie Evgeni Nabokov's save percentage is just .873. He was pulled from Sunday's 6-2 loss at Colorado.
Player to watch: Jonathan Toews. The Hawks' highly touted 19-year-old center makes his NHL debut.
-- Tim Sassone