Hawks decide size matters: Big Buff back at forward

It's probably not the news the Vancouver Canucks wanted to hear heading into their Western Conference semifinal series against the Blackhawks, but news they had to figure was coming nonetheless:

Big Buff is back.

Dustin Byfuglien, who has spent the last month or so on defense, practiced at wing on Wednesday and Hawks coach Joel Quenneville's plan is for Byfuglien to be the same disruptive force up front against the Canucks that he was last year in the Hawks' series win.

"He was a factor in that series and last year in the playoffs up front," said Quenneville, who skated Byfuglien alongside John Madden and Troy Brouwer. "I just think at this time of the year he can be such a factor."

Byfuglien was indeed a huge factor in last year's semifinals, more like a pain in the you know what for Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo and any Vancouver defenseman who tried to dislodge him from his spot in front of the net.

"Dustin did a great job," defenseman Brian Campbell said. "I watched some film and he was a powerhouse out there - all over the ice. I'm sure he feels more comfortable having played the last couple years up front."

Luongo and Co. seem mentally prepared for the challenge of dealing with a space clogger like Big Buff.

"It's part of hockey right now and I had a lot of it in the first series," Luongo told The Providence. "I was able to do deal with it, and I'm sure it will be the same coming up."

In addition to being a space eater in front of the net during last year's playoff run, Byfuglien was also a hit man extrordinaire, registering an NHL-tying 78 hits through the conference finals.

Expect more of the same this time around from the guy who helped kick-start the feuding between the Hawks and Canucks courtesy of a forearm to Luongo last March.

"He can maybe roam more free out there with the big body he has. and we're probably looking for him to lead our team in hits when he's up front," Campbell said.

A rash of injuries to Hawks defensemen necessitated Byfuglien's move to the blue line, where he had some decidedly mixed results.

"On defense, he's had some good when he began and we're keeping an eye on him now," Quenneville said. "He was on the blue line and now we have some options during the course of games of putting him back, but I think up front is where he is going to begin and hopefully he can be a presence at the net and physically doing his thing."

Byfuglien wasn't available for comment on the switch, but his teammates were and they applauded the move.

"I think it's time for Buff to come up front," Kris Versteeg said. "He's a powerful forward. When he gets up there and gets in the play, good things happen.

"Anytime you can put a guy like Buff in that spot it can only mean good things."

One of the recipients of Byfuglien's largesse figures to be the veteran Madden, who can't wait to skate again with the big guy.

"I enjoy playing with him," Madden said. "We're ready to reunite and have some fun.

"Now that Buff is back out front ... at 260 pounds, my job is to throw a lot of pucks at the net and let him go at it."

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<li><a href="/story/?id=376894">Nerves aside, Bickell gives Hawks a solid presence <span class="date">[4/29/10]</span></a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=376898">It's all good between Kane and Luongo <span class="date">[4/29/10]</span></a></li>

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