With new center, Hawks’ Hossa must adjust again

Getting used to yet another center — this time Dave Bolland — means another adjustment for Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa.

But unlike the subtle adjustments Hossa has had to make playing with Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane, it’s more complicated with Bolland.

Toews and Kane are left-handed shots and have an easier time passing to Hossa on right side because they are facing that way.

Bolland is a right-handed shot, which means either making riskier backhand passes to Hossa on the right side or both players adjusting their positioning on the ice while on the attack.

“I know David is a great player and playmaker, but if you’ve got a left-handed center, he can see right away because they are facing that way and make the pass a little quicker,” Hossa said. “Playing with Dave, maybe keep swinging from the right to the left and try to get open for him. Maybe instead of staying on my side, I try to criss-cross with him.”

Bolland has been added to the long list of players Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has used at center on the second line, joining Kane, Marcus Kruger, Michael Frolik, Brandon Pirri, Andrew Shaw and Ben Smith.

Kruger’s concussion has caused most of the juggling at center, but he might return Saturday at Detroit, according to Quenneville.

Rumor mill:

It’s that time again in the NHL, with rumors spouting as the Feb. 27 trade deadline inches closer.

Hawks general manager Stan Bowman has made it no secret he would like to add a second-line center along with a top-five defenseman.

One center’s name making the rounds in rumors as someone the Hawks might be scouting is the Islanders’ Frans Nielsen, who has 7 goals and 20 assists and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

According to a source, the Hawks also apparently are scouting Washington’s 6-foot-6, 230-pound defenseman Jeff Schultz, who has appeared in only 27 of the Capitals’ 41 games.

He started it:

The Hawks admit they are unclear about the definition of the instigator penalty.

Both Steve Montador and Jamal Mayers got instigating penalties in Tuesday’s win over Columbus for starting fights with Jared Boll they didn’t believe they deserved.

“I don’t think (Mayers) or I jumped anybody,” Montador said. “We approached him and he was willing to go each time. I think an instigator rule should apply for someone that doesn’t want to fight.”

And Joel Quenneville’s take? “A lot of times it’s distance traveled,” he said. “I think that’s the one they will always look at and gets their attention more than anything.”