Barker's days with Hawks were numbered

Cam Barker's days with the Blackhawks were numbered in a lot of ways.

Barker had become the Hawks' sixth defenseman after showing signs of a breakthrough last season when he put up 40 points.

His ice time had dropped to 13 minutes and on Thursday coach Joel Quenneville spoke about how more was expected out of the third pick in the 2004 draft (behind Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin).

"There's nothing wrong with Cam; he's going to be an NHL defenseman for a long time," Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said Friday after trading Barker to Minnesota for defensemen Kim Johnsson and Nick Leddy. "His ice time was less, but I don't know if it was so much him as circumstances. Nik (Hjalmarsson) has played very well with (Brian) Campbell, and when you find a combination that works you stay with it."

Then there was Barker's contract on a team with salary cap issues. He had two years remaining with a $3.1 million cap hit while Johnsson's contract expires after the season.

"It's going to be a good opportunity for me," Barker said about going to Minnesota. "Obviously with the cap situation in Chicago something was bound to happen here sooner or later."

Johnsson will make his Hawks debut tonight against Atlanta wearing No. 8.

"He's very excited," Bowman said. "He knows he's coming to a good team."

Niemi to start: Antti Niemi will make his third consecutive start tonight against the Thrashers.

It will mark the first time he has made three straight starts. Niemi is coming off back-to-back wins over Dallas and St. Louis.

"He's coming off a couple strong wins, he has some momentum in his game right now and let's keep it going," Joel Quenneville said.

Power-play changes: So much for Cam Barker returning to the point to help the power play out of its 0-for-20 slump.

But Dustin Byfuglien will be going back in front of the net after playing the point for the last few weeks.

"We like Buff's shooting ability, but we also like his presence and his size in front of the net," Joel Quenneville said. "We had to change the look when you go dry for six games or so. With a different look hopefully we can ignite it."

Help wanted: With John Madden and Ben Eager out for this weekend's games with lower body injuries, Joel Quenneville said the Hawks would recall a player from Rockford today.