Just call him captain Toews
When it comes to worst-kept secrets within the Blackhawks, this one's right up there with them being interested in Brian Campbell before he became a free agent and the NHL's Outdoor Classic coming Jan. 1 to Wrigley Field.
Jonathan Toews is going to be the next captain of the Hawks, with the 20-year-old center likely wearing the "C" as soon as opening night.
Hawks coach Denis Savard all but confirmed Toews' captaincy Thursday.
"It's a natural fit," Savard said at rookie camp at the Edge in Bensenville. "Personally, when I sit down with the staff and my coaches, I know that I've got my mind made up. I don't care how young you are. He's that type of person that is going to be a great captain for us. But we'll see before I make a final decision."
Unlike a few year ago, there is no shortage of leaders in the Hawks' dressing room now. In addition to Toews, there's Duncan Keith, Patrick Shark, Brent Seabrook, Brent Sopel, Adam Burish and the newly signed Brian Campbell.
"In talking to people that have played with Brian, he's a pretty strong guy in the room," Savard said. "Adding one more leader in your room makes it fun."
The Hawks didn't have a captain last season with it obvious their intention of holding the job for Toews. The last team captains were Adrian Aucoin and Martin Lapointe, who split the duties in 2006-07.
Ones to watch: The Hawks' weeklong rookie camp ends today with forwards Akim Aliu, Igor Makarov, Bill Sweatt and goaltender Antti Niemi having been among the most impressive prospects, according to Denis Savard.
"I don't think Akim is that far off," Savard said of the Hawks' second-round pick from 2007. "His skill, his size and his ability is NHL, big time. He has what (Patrick) Kane and (Jonathan) Toews and (Niklas) Hjalmarsson showed in that camp last year.
"He's a step above a lot of guys, but obviously there's things he needs to tweak in his game and that's maturity, part of it," Savard said. "You can see he makes decisions that are risky, but he has NHL skating, shot and skill. I would say he'll be a Blackhawk with three years."
Makarov, the Hawks' second-round pick in 2006, played in Russia last season, but general manager Dale Tallon is negotiating to sign him to play in Rockford.
"He's played really well this week," Savard said. "He's got a bit of Sergei Krivokrasov in him, and Krivo was a good player. He competes and you can see he's more mature than a lot of them out there."
Picking it up: First-round draft pick Kyle Beach had probably his best day in Thursday's third scrimmage in terms of being a presence.
Beach admitted it has been tough playing the kind of edgy game he prefers in this setting.
"It's a bit tough out here because you're friends with all the guys," Beach said. "You don't want to jump a guy or give a guy a two-hand because you've got to go out for dinner and room with him that night."
Looking ahead: Dale Tallon said Mark Kelley, hired Wednesday as director of amateur scouting, will eventually succeed chief amateur scout Michel Dumas, who is two to three away from retirement.
Kelly previously scouted for Pittsburgh and Quebec before joining the Hawks.