Use of Barker in shootout an indictment of forwards?
When Blackhawks coach Denis Savard chose defenseman Cam Barker to go fifth in Saturday's shootout against San Jose with the game on the line, it definitely raised eyebrows.
Barker missed his first NHL shootout attempt and the Hawks lost 3-2.
Savard used Barker after Patrick Kane scored and Martin Havlat, Patrick Sharp and Robert Lang each missed, explaining to reporters that the defenseman had done well in practice during shootout drills.
Savard's curious decision to use Barker certainly revealed one thing: Savard obviously had little confidence in his remaining forwards once it got past Kane, Havlat, Sharp and Lang.
And why should Savard have confidence in forwards Tuomo Ruutu, Rene Bourque, Adam Burish or Yanic Perreault considering their general lack of production all season?
Ruutu has gone 22 games without a goal. Since starting the season with 3 goals in the first seven games playing on a line with Kane and Jonathan Toews, Ruutu has scored 3 in his next 43 games.
Perreault has 6 goals in 44 games, 2 coming in the final minutes of Wednesday's 6-3 loss at Colorado. Bourque has 5 goals in 33 games, Burish 1 in 52.
Savard no doubt thought Barker gave the Hawks the best chance to survive Saturday's shootout. Either that or he was sending a message to somebody.
Stepping up: If there was a bright spot in Saturday's loss to the Sharks it was the play of goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who made 38 saves in what turned out to be his 10th straight defeat.
"His performance was incredible," Denis Savard told reporters. "I believe in him."
Khabibulin's last win was Dec. 26 against Nashville.
Check, please: Jonathan Toews rejoined the team Saturday, although the rookie center won't play for at least three more games because of the sprained knee he suffered Jan. 1.
Toews better have brought his credit card because the team plans to have its annual rookie dinner this week on the road.
The dinner bill normally runs into the thousands of dollars, but this year the bill can be split between Toews, Patrick Kane, Adam Burish, Jack Skille, Jordan Hendry and Martin St. Pierre.
Tip-ins: Martin Lapointe, who has missed the last seven games with a bruised kidney, likely will return Wednesday at Edmonton. … In a team vote, Lapointe and Patrick Sharp will serve as alternate captains the rest of the season. Brent Sopel and Robert Lang will switch off being the third alternate captain. …
The Ottawa Sun reported Sunday that the Buffalo Sabres are asking for a player, a prospect and a No. 1 draft choice for defenseman Brian Campbell, who interests the Hawks in a big way. … The Hawks will practice today and Tuesday in San Jose before heading to Edmonton.