Burish antsy to play again
Adam Burish returned to practice Monday for the first time since Nov. 25, when he broke the big toe on his right foot blocking a shot in a practice.
Burish said he could play today if there was a game, but Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville will wait until Friday when Philadelphia comes to town to make any lineup decisions.
Burish, naturally, would hate to miss next week's Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.
"I'd cut this thing off if I could be out there Jan. 1," Burish said. "I'm telling them I'm ready to play (Friday), but we'll see what the coach wants to do."
The Hawks have won seven games in a row so it might be tough for Quenneville to tinker with the lineup, although Burish is a unique energy-type player on the fourth line.
"He's one of those guys that brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our team and I'm sure he's chomping at the bit to get back here an get on the ice with the guys and get back in the lineup," Quenneville said.
Burish knows it could be tough to crack the lineup, especially how well the fourth line of Colin Fraser, Ben Eager and Craig Adams is playing.
"I can't control that or worry about that," Burish said. "Now it's just a matter of being plugged back in there.
"It's been hard watching. I didn't get to go on the trip so you sit at home and watch the games and jumping and yelling at the TV. You want to be part of it when the team is doing so well."
Roster decisions: With Adam Burish and Aaron Johnson both eligible to come off long-term injured reserve Friday, the Hawks have some personnel decisions to make in order to stay under the salary cap.
Johnson's return would give the Hawks eight defensemen when normally seven are kept.
"As a coach you welcome tough decisions," Joel Quenneville said. "I think that's a sign that our organization is improving and making big strides to get better as a team and an organization.
"If we have to make a tough (decision), I have no problem doing that. The tougher the better."
Johnson was playing top-four minutes on defense when he suffered an upper body injury on Nov. 26 at San Jose.