Confident Barker hopes to give Hawks a boost

Cam Barker, take three.

Before Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the Hawks' most prized prospect was Barker, the puck-moving defenseman taken with the third pick in the 2004 draft.

But unlike Toews and Kane, who were ready to play in the NHL in their first pro season, Barker was sent to the minors for more seasoning after the last two training camps.

Foot surgery derailed his plan to stick in 2006. This year at training camp, Barker simply wasn't ready. After two solid months at Rockford, the Hawks hope he is now.

Barker was recalled from Rockford following Wednesday's 5-2 win over Nashville and will be in the lineup Saturday at Ottawa, paired with James Wisniewski and taking a shift on the power play.

"He's really showed leadership skills and leadership qualities down there," said Hawks coach Denis Savard.

There have been nothing but positive scouting reports on Barker from general manager Dale Tallon and the Rockford management staff, but what impressed Savard was what goaltender teammate Corey Crawford recently told Hawks goalie coach Stephane Waite.

"He said to Stephane Waite that (Barker) is just dominating down there," Savard said. "I like the fact Dale is saying it and our staff down there is saying it, but when it comes from a teammate, that's pretty big. So it's time."

Barker wants to believe it's his time after 29 productive games at Rockford that saw him deliver 8 goals and 11 assists to go with 67 penalty minutes.

"I had a chance to play a lot of minutes in a lot of situations," Barker said. "I knew if I played well and stuck with it I'd get a chance at some point. It's been a long wait, but I think I've earned it."

Barker appeared in 35 games last season with the Hawks after recovering from his foot injury, but it was obvious to the coaches that he needed to improve his quickness.

Barker had a jump in his step at practice Thursday.

"He's looks really fit and obviously he has played in all situations down there," Savard said. "He's played a lot of minutes. We know that eventually he's going to play in the NHL for a long time. We wanted to bring him up at the proper time and right now he's playing with lots of confidence and will get a great opportunity to play."

Barker would provide a big lift to the Hawks if he could help solidify the left point on the power play, which has been a problem spot ever since Jason Williams went down with a groin injury.

"He'll be on one of the units," Savard said.

"I've been given a chance now," Barker said. "I've learned a lot in the couple months I was down there and I plan on staying.

"It's been a long couple years with injuries and what not; been up and down, but I feel I'm really on top of my game and ready to make that step."