Hawks' winger Byfuglien hanging in there

Perhaps the expectations are higher for Blackhawks winger Dustin Byfuglien because he is so imposing at 6-feet-3 and 247 pounds.

Certainly the eye-popping, three-year, $9 million contract he signed last summer after scoring 19 goals has only added to what is expected of him.

But it's a quarter of the way into the season and Byfuglien has struggled to be a factor on most nights. He has only 2 goals and 4 assists in 19 games, putting him on a pace to score fewer than 10 goals for the season.

"Obviously, everyone wants to score, but sometimes it just doesn't happen out there," Byfuglien said. "I feel good, but bounces and everything, my game isn't where I want it to be.

"But that's the way it goes sometimes. You just try to work hard and get on the body and do the simple things and the other things will come."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has no issues with how Byfuglien is playing despite what the numbers say.

"We're not complaining about the way he's playing," Quenneville said. "We're very happy with him and his contribution."

There is a tendency for the fans and media to expect Byfuglien to be this power forward who runs over people and is dominant in front of the net because of his size.

But for some players who are big, that style just is not in their nature. The jury still is out in that regard on the 23-year-old Byfuglien, who is only in his second year playing forward in the NHL after making the switch from defense.

"I feel I should be bringing more to the table and help this year in more ways, but I still have to do my job and not change too much and keep it simple," Byfuglien said. "I feel I can help the team more, maybe create more energy out there.

"I'd like to get a few more assists and a few more goals, but it's still early. The first quarter is gone, and I just have to stay focused on the things I do."

Byfuglien has played on the third line with Dave Bolland and Andrew Ladd most of the season following Denis Savard's firing, although Quenneville had Byfuglien skating with Jonathan Toews and Kris Versteeg at practice Tuesday.

"Savvy saw me more as an offensive guy," Byfuglien said. "Joel sees me more of an offensive defenseman, playing on the shutdown line more, but I can still produce. I guess either way it doesn't matter. However I can help the team the best."

In Byfuglien, Quenneville sees a player with a huge upside and not a guy he wants to label as an offensive player or a defensive player.

"As a team and as a staff we feel what he brings is hard to find," Quenneville said. "I think Buf is an individual that can do a lot of things for our team. He's a valuable commodity as far as what he brings.

"He brings size, he brings skill, he brings toughness, and we don't want him to change his game at all."

In fairness to Byfuglien, he was slowed by an injury in training camp and then missed three games on the recent road trip with an upper-body problem.

"I don't think his role has changed at all," Quenneville said. "He was playing in what might have looked as a checking assignment, but I was very happy with that line and their production. He got hurt and he's been trying to get himself back at that level."

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