Hawks eager for the enforcer?
Do the Blackhawks need an enforcer next season to protect skill players such as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews?
The answer is probably, but don't expect general manager Dale Tallon to spend a lot of time pursuing an available heavyweight. Hawks coach Denis Savard believes Ben Eager can be that guy.
"You like to have toughness, that enforcer type player, but that guy has to be able to play," Savard said. "I'm looking forward to having Ben Eager back next year. He gives us that presence, that toughness and that grit, and he can play."
Earlier this season the Hawks had David Koci on the roster, but it became apparent that Koci was going to have difficulty playing more than a handful of minutes per game. Koci is an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Without Koci, it has been Adam Burish and others trying to keep the opposition in line.
"We've got plenty of guys in here that are willing to deal with guys that want to take liberties with out young guys," Burish said.
"We're a gritty team," Savard said. "Everybody can take care of themselves pretty well."
The Hawks may be grooming a future enforcer in 6-foot-3, 210-pound right wing Richard Greenop, a sixth-round draft pick in 2007 who spent this season at Windsor in the Ontario Hockey League racking up 194 penalty minutes in 60 games.
Let's play nice: The war of words between Denis Savard and several of the Blues last week was nothing compared to when Savard played and there was real bad blood.
Today's rivalries pale in comparison to how the Hawks and Minnesota North Stars felt about each other years ago, or the Hawks and the Blues.
"You're right, it's not like it was, but part of it is we had divisional playoff series," Savard said. "We played Minnesota and St. Louis every year in the playoffs, and that's really what creates rivalries. It's not so much in the regular season."
Savard laughed when asked why players don't seem to hate each other anymore.
"I got a big list," joked Savard. "They wore (North Stars) green and a little bit of yellow, and white and blue jerseys."
Looking back: If the Hawks don't make the playoffs, the reason will be their four extended losing streaks of four games or more.
"The biggest thing for us to learn, the consistency has been there, but we've got to stop the losing streaks," Denis Savard said. "Losing three, four, five in a row, we've got to stop that. We have to find a way to stop that.
"Every team goes through winning streaks and losing streaks, but for us, we have to eliminate the losing streaks."
Tonight's faceoff
Blackhawks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center, 6 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
The skinny: The Blue Jackets followed up Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Hawks by getting blanked 2-0 on Friday by Nashville. Goalie Pascal Leclaire remains out with a concussion and might not play again this season. The Blue Jackets lead the season series 4-3 and have won two of three in Chicago. One more win for the Blue Jackets will tie their franchise season record of 35 victories.
Player to watch: Fredrik Norrena. Columbus goalie had an easy night Wednesday when he shut out the Hawks.
Next: Detroit Red Wings at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
-- Tim Sassone