Hawks' Byfuglien embracing role on blue line
During the 2009 NHL playoffs, Dustin Byfuglien earned acclaim by planting his 6-foot-4, 257-pound frame in front of the net and causing havoc for the opposing goalie.
This time around, Byfuglien's plan is to plant anyone who dares to threaten Hawks goalie Antti Niemi.
Since switching to the blue line in the wake of Brian Campbell's clavicle injury, Byfuglien has joined forces with Norris Trophy hopeful Duncan Keith to form the Hawks' top defensive duo.
Byfuglien's ongoing transition will be one of the bigger storylines -- figuratively and literally -- of the Hawks' first-round series with Nashville that begins at 7:30 p.m. today.
"It's going to be pretty much a new learning curve," Byfuglien said. "Probably just keep it simple and not try to do too much back there."
"When I first started playing 'D,' the first couple shifts I was actually leading the rush. I was like, 'Wait a second. I've got to come back and play defense here.' But it's been good. It's been fun."
According to Hawks coach Joel Quenneville, Byfuglien doth protest too much about learning curves.
"I know he played some 'D' here in the past in the organization, but I think it was a nice surprise for our staff," Quenneville said. "In the middle of the year, all of a sudden you put him back there and he's able to play important minutes against top guys and looks comfortable defensively, offensively and gives us some size (and) a big shot. It's been a nice fit for us."
"He's probably been more of a natural defensively than he is at forward," Keith said. "So for him, the transition's probably a little easier."
Nonetheless, Byfuglien delivered 3 goals and 6 assists in 17 playoff games as a winger last year. While he doesn't put it past Quenneville to return him to his goalie-terrorizing ways if the Hawks struggle offensively, it's clear someone needs to fulfill Byfuglien's old role.
Troy Brouwer, who's back after missing the final four regular-season games to tend to his ailing father, seems like a leading candidate to be the new "Buff" along with Andrew Ladd and Tomas Kopecky.
"Those type of guys are good at getting in front of the net and giving quality screens," Keith said. " 'Buff' did a great job of that last year."
Funny, Ladd thought he did a solid job at that last year as well.
"I think it's part of my game," Ladd said. "It's something I've tried to do throughout my career, but in saying that I think we have a lot of guys that can do that.
"(Ben) Eager and Brouwer and 'Kopie' and me, we're going to be counted on to get to the net and create traffic on (Nashville goalie Pekka) Rinne."
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