Savard has clear ideas concerning Hawks' lineup
When Blackhawks coach Denis Savard looks at his roster the way it stands today, he doesn't see a problem at center.
The Hawks would line up with Jonathan Toews, Robert Lang, Dave Bolland and Adam Burish down the middle if the season opened today.
"(Patrick) Sharp is another center, too, but for me not to put him in that position with those two kids, it would be tough for me to take him away from that," Savard said, referring to a top line of Toews, Patrick Kane and Sharp. "They played so well together."
Savard is comfortable with Bolland in a third-line role after watching him score 17 points in 39 games last season.
"He plays with lots of grit, and I want him to play like that because he's going to fit for now probably as third-line center, possibly moving up to two at some point," Savard said. "He's smart. He's probably one of the smartest kids I've seen here as far as hockey sense. He's pretty high. He understand how to backcheck and how to play in his own end, and he has decent skills."
In Savard's mind, he sees a third line of Bolland, Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien and a fourth unit of Burish, Ben Eager and Craig Adams.
That would leave a hole at left wing on the second line with Lang and Martin Havlat.
"I know there will be a spot there when we look at the puzzle," Savard said. "That's one spot that one of our kids will be able to grab, possibly. But I don't know if we're done."
General manager Dale Tallon said this week he had a few more things in the fire, refusing to reveal if it had to do with trades or signing another free-agent forward.
Down the road: Prospects camp ended Friday with wingers Akim Aliu and Igor Makarov and goaltender Antti Niemi catching the most eyes with their play over four days.
Brian Connolly, a defenseman from Colorado College on tryout, and 2007 second-round draft pick Bill Sweatt, a left winger from Colorado College, also played very well in the eyes of the coaching staff.
Aliu and Niemi likely will start the season in Rockford playing in the American Hockey League.
"I don't know a lot about goaltending, but that Niemi is quick," Denis Savard said.
Dale Tallon is negotiating to bring Makarov over from Russia. The 20-year-old Makarov could have worked his way into the competition at training camp for a roster spot.
What's next: The Hawks' busy off-season continues with their first fan convention, set to open Friday, July 18, at the Chicago Hilton and Towers.
A schedule of events for the weekend is expected to be announced early next week.
The NHL also releases its schedule next week, and it's expected to show the Hawks playing at home on Jan. 1 against the Detroit Red Wings. The announcement regarding that game taking place outdoors at Wrigley Field is expected to come out of the fan convention.