Johnson regains his role following Wisniewski trade

Aaron Johnson, so solid on defense for the Blackhawks early in the season, hopes to step back into a prominent role again following Wednesday's trade of James Wisniewski to Anaheim.

Johnson was plus-11 in 18 games before getting injured Nov. 26 at San Jose when Mike Grier rammed him into the boards.

When Johnson returned a month later, he was unable to regain his spot in the top six from Matt Walker, Cam Barker and Wisniewski.

Johnson has been a healthy scratch in 16 of the last 18 games.

"Obviously, (the injury) was a couple steps back, that's for sure," Johnson said. "Once you get out of the lineup for that kind of period, then everyone was playing so well, it's always tough to get back in.

"It's tough when you're away from the game for a month because you lose that game speed. As the season proceeds, guys get better and better and it's almost like you're trying to catch up."

It will be coach Joel Quenneville's decision whether Johnson or rookie Niklas Hjalmarsson plays Saturday at Boston in Wisniewski's spot.

"I thought (Johnson) had a great start to the season and he hasn't been at that same level recently and we want to get him back to the way he started the season," Quenneville said. "It's not easy coming in and out of the lineup playing limited minutes. We want him to recapture that confidence in his game.

"Certainly you lose a nice player in Wiz, but it creates an opportunity here for Johnny to get back in the lineup, and we called up young Hjalmarsson."

Johnson hasn't been a minus player in any of the 28 games he has played and is plus-18 for the season.

Making progress: Nikolai Khabibulin, out since Feb. 11 with a groin injury, had a third straight day of solid work on the ice Wednesday, although he didn't practice with the team.

"We're seeing real good progress over the last couple of days," Joel Quenneville said. "That's three days in a row on the ice, so I think it won't be too long before he's inserted into practice."

Tip-ins: Defenseman Brent Sopel might also be close to returning to practice after missing the last 31 games following elbow surgery. - Kris Versteeg was ill and didn't practice Wednesday. - Patrick Sharp, out for the last three weeks with a knee injury, might be cleared to skate soon.