Savard not about to let Toews return early
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Jonathan Toews has been dropping hints to Blackhawks coach Denis Savard about possibly returning to the lineup Sunday in Vancouver.
"He said, 'I like that GM Place, it's one of my favorite buildings, the world juniors were there last year,' so I can see it coming, but for sure Sunday he's not playing. I don't care what he tells me," Savard said Wednesday. "I watched him a bit this morning and in San Jose and he's not quite ready."
Toews has been sidelined since Jan. 1, when he sprained his left knee in Los Angeles. Savard says Toews' first game could be Feb. 14 in Nashville, or the Hawks just might hold him out until Feb. 17 when they return home to face Colorado.
Savard originally had penciled in Toews to come back Feb. 13 at Columbus.
"I hate to start him in a back-to-back situation," Savard said. "The kid has so much will and so much heart and he wants to be out there with his teammates, but we'll do what's best for him and what's best for the team."
Toews has been skating with his teammates since Saturday and is champing at the bit to play again.
"Every day they tell me to take it slow," Toews said. "I'm trying to make sure I go about this the right way. It's been tough to do that, but it's good to be back out there with the boys."
Toews said he is pain free and that he feels his knee getting tighter each day on the ice.
"I think the only concern is maybe my conditioning, so I have to work on that a little bit and once I do I'll be ready to play real soon," Toews said. "I hope (Sunday), but we'll see.
"I guess the most important thing is to take care of my knee and make sure that when I am going to play I won't have any problems and I won't have to deal with this anymore."
To-ny, To-ny: Those chants for Tony Esposito should be ringing from the United Center rafters March 19 when the Hawks honor the Hall of Fame goaltender prior to the game against Washington.
The Hawks announced Wednesday they had reached an agreement with Esposito to join Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull as ambassadors for the club.
Mikita and Hull will be saluted March 7 prior to the game against San Jose.
Back at it: Martin Lapointe was in the lineup Wednesday after missing seven games with a bruised kidney.
Craig Adams was a healthy scratch, but he should be back in the lineup tonight at Calgary with Lapointe sitting.
"It would be tough for Marty to play back-to-back games," Denis Savard said. "I told Craig it's not about his play. I just wanted to get Marty back in for a game to see where he's at."
Savard decided to sit Adams instead of a younger player.
"If Jack Skille or a young player is going to be a scratch, then they don't deserve to be here," Savard said.
Expensive meal: The bill for the annual rookie meal that took place in San Jose was more than $11,000. Jonathan Toews said he and fellow rookies Patrick Kane, Jack Skille, Adam Burish, Martin St. Pierre and Jordan Hendry split the tab.
Tonight's faceoff
Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome, 8 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
The skinny: The Flames have been struggling, but their dramatic 4-3 win over Phoenix on Tuesday could give them some juice. Jarome Iginla's goal with eight seconds left in regulation tied the game, then he scored the deciding goal in a shootout. Iginla's goal was his first in 11 games. Nikolai Khabibulin starts in goal for the Hawks looking to snap a personal 10-game losing streak. The season series is tied at 1-1, with each team winning on the road. The Hawks won 2-1 on Nov. 22 in Calgary behind Khabibulin.
Player to watch: Jarome Iginla. Flames winger is having an MVP-type season with 33 goals and 67 points.
Next: Vancouver Canucks at GM Place, 9 p.m. Sunday
-- Tim Sassone