Hawks' Morin looks to make most of 'last chance'

Consider Thursday night a big night for Blackhawks rookie Jeremy Morin.

The fact that Morin and rookie defenseman Nick Leddy still are in training camp with three games left in the preseason shows the Hawks are at least thinking about keeping one or both of the 19-year-old prospects.

Morin, the skilled winger who came from Atlanta in the Dustin Byfuglien trade, appears to have the best chance to stick.

Morin skated at right wing with Dave Bolland and Fernando Pisani at practice Wednesday and will be in the lineup Thursday night at St. Louis in what could be a critical game for those Hawks battling for roster spots.

"You've got to approach these games like it's your last chance to show the coaching staff and the organization what you can do," Morin said. "You can't change anything. Just play as hard as you can and play your game."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville likes what he sees from Morin but emphasized the priority is for the organization to do what's best for the rookie's development considering he is only 19.

"We like what he brings, his overall game," Quenneville said. "He's got some imagination with the puck, he's got a nice set of hands, and he's competitive and we like his energy.

"We think he has a lot of ingredients, but at the same time we want to make sure his long-term success as a player that we do the right things with him."

The Hawks do have the option to send Morin to Rockford even though he has junior eligibility remaining.

"Everybody looks to play at this level," Morin said. "I've had a bit of success here, but I don't know how that translates for the future. That's their decision.

"Obviously I hope to be on this team from the start, but if not I'll take it as a good experience just being up here for the preseason."

The decision for the Hawks might come down to keeping Morin or Viktor Stalberg, who has had an unproductive preseason.

It would appear forwards Bryan Bickell, Jack Skille and Jake Dowell are pretty much certain to make the club. Bickell has been skating on a line with Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane, which speaks well for his chances to play in the top six.

"I'm just going to keep on doing what I'm doing," Bickell said. "I just have to be a grinder, hard-nosed player who gets his nose dirty."

Quenneville still calls the competition for roster spots "wide open" going into the final three games.

"We still want to see some guys play," Quenneville said. "That process still hasn't jumped out and been very clear to us as to who's going to be here. Hopefully we have some clarity going into the last two home games."

Leddy has shown the Hawks he could be something special, but there might not be room for him on defense at the moment. He might be better off going to Rockford and playing big minutes, including the power play.

"They (Leddy and Morin) have shown the way they play, the way they see the game and have a feel for the game that their careers are going to be bright," Quenneville said.

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