With Turco's puck handling Hawks have new direction

While the Blackhawks didn't go out and add an elite defenseman this off-season they believe they got the next best thing in goalie Marty Turco.

With Turco long considered one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL at handling the puck, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville can't wait to see the 35-year-old veteran go to work behind defensemen Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell and Niklas Hjalmarsson when camp opens Saturday.

Having Turco able to move the puck out of trouble, get it to the defense and going the other way quickly it should give the Hawks a different look than in the recent past considering puck handling wasn't a strength for Antti Niemi, Cristobal Huet or even Nikolai Khabibulin.

"He's definitely going to be different in the way that he handles the puck," Quenneville said. "We will encourage him to handle the puck, be it alleviating forechecking pressure (with) a direct pass up to our defense.

"He's going to make life a little more enjoyable on our defense as far as going back to get some dangerous pucks. All of a sudden it's a clean pass in the neutral zone and we're attacking on the offense. He kind of complements our team game, a fast game, puck-possession game. We want him to be a big part of the game and it starts with the way he handles the puck."

Turco is eager for the training camp practices and preseason games so he can get familiar with playing behind one of the quicker and more mobile defenses in the league.

"You have to work tightly with your defense and the communication factor, and that doesn't start Oct. 7 when we hit the ice for the first time (at Colorado)," Turco said. "It starts with practice all through training camp, talking and getting to know each other, knowing their voices, knowing where they like to catch the puck and what hand they are without blinking an eye.

"Hopefully I can complement these guys and give them confidence when maybe things aren't going well or things get a little bit frazzled. The great thing about being a goaltender is the opportunity to emotionally and psychologically give those guys added confidence."

Having Quenneville's confidence to leave the net and play the puck is important to Turco.

"Playing the puck or the ability to play it at a high proficiency level is something I take a lot of pride in, and I think is a valuable asset for any teams that I've played on," Turco said. "Gaining the confidence of the coaches is first and foremost so they're not cringing anytime there's bobbled puck or a misplay behind the net."

The Hawks lost some key leaders over the summer in John Madden, Andrew Ladd and Brent Sopel, but general manager Stan Bowman sees Turco helping to fill the void.

"Marty has a lot of things he can call upon from his past and I think he's going to fit in really quickly with the group," Bowman said. "By the end of training camp it's going to be like he's been here for a couple years. He's just got that ability to connect with people."

Turco's athletic and acrobatic style certainly could lead to a connection with fans.

"I look forward to the opportunity to stand in my crease in the Madhouse on Madison and get the chance to make some saves and get the people up on their feet," Turco said.