Surgery to finish Eager's season

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ben Eager will undergo shoulder surgery Monday to repair his rotator cuff, officially bringing an end his season.

"They're going to go in there and take care of it so he is ready for next year," Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said Saturday. "We tried to rehab it and rehab it, but it just hasn't gone away."

Even though Eager appeared in only nine games after being acquired from Philadelphia for Jim Vandermeer, missing his 34th Saturday because of injuries, Savard is counting on the left winger for next season as possibly a top-nine forward.

Savard was impressed by three games the 24-year-old Eager played earlier this month when he returned after missing 27 with a concussion.

"I'm glad I saw him in three games before he got hurt to see what he can bring us," Savard said. "I was impressed. I don't know if he's going to be a top-nine forward, like eighth, ninth or 10th, but if he does it makes a big difference because of his size. He can skate and is physical."

Savard said last week he believed the Hawks needed to get bigger to get better, and the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Eager brings size.

"His minutes are going to increase next year, no question," Savard said. "Early on I was playing him five or six minutes, but he's going to get to 10-12, possibly 14, depending on how he plays.

"There's no doubt he can be an eighth, ninth or 10th forward. He was a first-round pick who got 40 points his last year of juniors with 200 penalty minutes. It would be a good thing for us if he's capable of doing it."

Barker might play: Cam Barker, who missed Saturday's game with a slight concussion, might play today against St. Louis.

"He's probably OK to play; there's a slight chance," Denis Savard said.

Barker was able to ride the stationary bike Saturday with no symptoms, which the NHL requires of all players who have been concussed.

Savard said Barker would need to pass another test today in order to play.

Barker was hurt in Wednesday's game against Washington on a check from Matt Cooke, the same guy who hit James Wisniewski from behind earlier in the season while Cooke played for Vancouver.

"It was kind of hit him from behind, nothing crazy; it just snapped (Barker's) neck a bit," Savard said.

Wait and see: While Denis Savard would like goalie Nikolai Khabibulin to start the last seven games, he doesn't know if that's possible.

"I'd like to see him go down the stretch, but we'll see. I want to make sure his back is fine," Savard said.

Today's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues at the United Center, 2 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: After a strong start to the season, the Blues are staggering to a poor finish. The nine-game road trip that basically killed their playoff chances ends today, and so far the Blues are 1-7. The season series with the Hawks is tied at 3-3 with two games to play. The Blues have 7 power-play goals in the six games, while the Hawks are 4-for-22. Nikolai Khabibulin has played only two games against the Blues and is 1-1. Jay McKee, Dan Hinote and Mike Johnson missed the Blues' last game with injuries.

Player to watch: Patrick Kane. The Hawks rookie has 3 goals against the Blues this season.

Next: Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, 6 p.m. Wednesday.

-- Tim Sassone