Hawks' Brouwer believes he can score even more
For the Blackhawks, replacing the goals they lost when Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd left isn't going to rest solely with those new players taking their place.
For starters, the Hawks expect to have Marian Hossa for a full season. Hossa scored 24 goals last year in only 57 games, and a healthy Hossa should approach his customary 40.
If Jonathan Toews can avoid another slow start scoring goals he should improve on the 25 he got a year ago.
And then there's Troy Brouwer. He scored 22 goals last season and believes he can do better.
Brouwer was a 40-goal scorer in the minors and would like to think he could approach a bigger number this season with the Hawks.
"I think I've got better in me," Brouwer said. "My first season was OK and my second season was better and I think I have more in myself. I'm expecting some pretty good things out of myself."
Brouwer discovered last season he could score in the NHL, which is a big hurdle for a lot of guys who have had success in the minors.
"My first year I was maybe a little bit of just content to be here," Brouwer said. "I got a couple goals (10 in 69 games in 2008-09), but not as nearly as much as what I had been scoring in the past. Then last year I did pretty well and started to break out and score some goals.
"I think I have it in me to do really well and have a really good season this year."
Brouwer got a lot of his goals last season playing on the first line with Toews and Patrick Kane and would love to win one of the coveted spots on the top two lines, but that's still to be determined.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has a lot of options when it comes to picking the two wingers to play with Toews, Kane, Patrick Sharp and Hossa in the top six.
It could be Brouwer and Tomas Kopecky, or Viktor Stalberg or maybe Jack Skille. Rookie Jermey Morin still could be in that mix as well.
Brouwer also might be a candidate to play on the checking third line with Dave Bolland.
"It doesn't matter what line I'm on because there's going to be great players to play with," Brouwer said.
With more roster cuts expected after Thursday's game at St. Louis, Quenneville likely will use the final two exhibitions games Friday against Pittsburgh and Sunday with the Blues to finalize what he hopes will be his lines for next week's opener at Colorado.
"Guys are really starting to fight for positions and spots on the team," Brouwer said. "Now is the time where you really show your stuff to try and see where you're slotted on the team the rest of the season."
• The Hawks sent out two more players Tuesday, assigning forward Hugh Jessiman to Rockford and returning forward Ludvig Rensfeldt to Brynas IF in Sweden. The training-camp roster sits at 31.
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