Kane set to test ankle in practice
GLENDALE, Ariz. - There was a welcome sight on the ice for the Blackhawks at Tuesday's morning skate: Patrick Kane on skates giving his sprained right ankle a test.
While Kane wasn't in the lineup against the Coyotes, missing his second straight game, the all-star winger plans to take part in the Hawks' full practice today in suburban Denver.
There's a chance Kane could return to the lineup Thursday against the Avalanche, although a better bet might Saturday at Nashville.
"It feels all right," Kane said. "I'll probably need a couple more days just to treat it and see how it feels (today) in practice. We'll see how it goes. Obviously you don't want to put a date on when you're going to come back because you don't really know with this kind of injury.
"We'll see how it feels and see if it's ready for the weekend or Colorado, who knows really? Hopefully the sooner the better. These injuries are tough to predict and obviously you don't want to re-aggravate it."
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said it would be up to Kane to tell him when he's ready to play.
"Hopefully he can play on this trip," Quenneville said. "That's basically where we're at. He's close."
Kane watched from the press box for the first time in his career on Sunday when the Hawks beat Calgary and couldn't sit still.
"I've never been in that situation before," Kane said. "The ice looks huge. It looks like there's a lot of room out there, but you know playing out there there's not as much time as you think."
Cooler heads: Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky has had plenty of time to cool off from the 7-1 drubbing at the hands of the Hawks on Dec. 7 at the United Center when he criticized Kris Versteeg for fighting Kyle Turris in the final seconds.
"You look at the scenario," Gretzky said. "Versteeg, he's playing hard; it's one of those things that happen. Tempers flare, and I got a little hot because it was 7-1, and I don't like seeing an 18-year-old kid (Turris) getting beat up. But it's over and done with."
At least the Hawks didn't have to deal with Coyotes enforcer Daniel Carcillo, who missed Tuesday's game after undergoing mouth surgery Monday.
In good company: It hasn't taken Hawks president John McDonough long to make his mark in a new league.
In the Hockey News' annual list of the 100 people of power and influence in hockey, McDonough checks in at No. 48.
"The best thing Chicago owner Rocky Wirtz did was hire John McDonough as president," wrote the Hockey News' editors. "A year ago, the Hawks were ecstatic if they had a crowd of 12,000. These days they have 14,000 season-ticket holders and sellouts are the norm. Hockey is back on top in Chicago and McDonough calls the shots."
The only other Hawks' presence in the top 100 was senior advisor Scotty Bowman at No. 55.