Turco can handle joining a winner

There is at least one area where Marty Turco is a significant upgrade over Antti Niemi in goal for the Blackhawks.

Turco is considered one of the best, if not the best, puck handlers in the game among goalies.

The Hawks' last three goalies - Niemi, Cristobal Huet and Nikolai Khabibulin - were weak in that department.

Turco's skill with the puck could make the quickest and most mobile defense in the NHL even more effective.

"Marty is great at stopping the puck, but in addition he's probably the best puck-handling goaltender in the league and I think that's well known, so you add that to the mix," Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said.

"We haven't really had that skill here for many years in Chicago, a goaltender who is that proficient with the puck. I think part of being a good defensive team is you don't spend a lot of time in your defensive zone. That's one thing I'm actually looking forward to seeing, our defensemen maybe getting the puck just a couple seconds quicker than they have in the past. That's a huge advantage for us."

Turco is athletic and animated around the net and knows only one way to compete.

Missing the playoffs the last two seasons in Dallas didn't sit well with the 34-year-old veteran, who took less money ($1.3 million) to sign a one-year deal with the Hawks.

"I've played a long time, seen a lot of ups and downs in the NHL and been on some good teams," Turco said. "The last few years, not making the playoffs, have cemented my belief in how I work and what makes me tick and that's having an opportunity to win, and that's what the Chicago Blackhawks are all about."

Turco is from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, just like Tony Esposito, and can't believe he's going to play for the same team as his idol.

Turco even wore No. 35 in Dallas, the same number the Hawks have retired in honor of Esposito.

"It's been almost a dream come true to play for an Original Six team, especially one with the number of Tony Esposito, who's from my hometown, up in the rafters," Turco said. "It's an amazing day for my family and me to become a Blackhawk."

Turco waited patiently for the chance to play for the Hawks, knowing there could be trouble re-signing Niemi because of salary cap problems.

"In terms of waiting and not signing, now that the day has come it makes it all worth it," Turco said. "I won't say there wasn't anxious times. We had offers from other teams and multiyear deals that didn't suit my eye when I knew there was an opportunity to be part of this great organization."

Bowman preferred to look ahead and not behind at the fact the Hawks now have lost 10 players off their championship team because of cap issues.

"The salary cap has been talked about probably too much here over the last month or so, but I understand why that's the case," Bowman said. "I think we should focus on the fact we've got quite an accomplished goaltender who really wants to be in Chicago."