Opportunity knocking for Hawks' Barker, Kontiola

You could say the time is now for Cam Barker.

It's been four years since the Blackhawks made Barker the third pick in the 2004 draft, and while some players make immediate impacts taken out of that spot, Barker has needed time to develop.

Now the Hawks want to know exactly what they have, which is one of the reasons for coach Denis Savard choosing Barker to partner on defense with Brian Campbell - the guy the Hawks spent almost $57 million on to come to Chicago as a free agent.

That's opportunity knocking for Barker.

"We did the right thing with him," Savard said. "Goaltending and defense are very difficult positions in this league to play. You can lose your confidence in a hurry and sometimes you're never able to regain that. We feel he's ready, but the games are going to tell us. He's going to have to earn that spot with Brian."

Barker spent nearly all of August in town working out daily at the United Center to get into what he feels is the best shape of his life.

"I feel better than I ever have on the ice," Barker said.

Pairing two offensive-minded players in Campbell and Barker is an interesting choice by Savard, whom many believed would play the more defensive Brent Sopel with Campbell.

"Barker brings a physical presence, size, and I like the minds of these two," Savard said. "They're skilled and they see the ice. It's not set in stone, but I like what I've seen so far."

So far in scrimmages Campbell has looked quick and dangerous with the puck on the rush.

"Obviously he likes to wheel and deal a bit and cycle," Barker said. "I'm a little bit the same way, but not so much up ice. He really gets up the ice in a hurry, and I think our transition game is going to be great. I think we compliment each other pretty nicely."

Time to step up: If rookie Petri Kontiola wants to win a job at center in the absence of Robert Lang, the time to start showing it is Tuesday night in the preseason opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center.

Kontiola hasn't made much of an impression in the first three days of training camp scrimmages, but the preseason opener represents his first big chance as he centers a line for Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane.

"Petri has been OK," Denis Savard said. "He's getting an opportunity of a lifetime here and it's up to him to grab it if he wants it. We feel he's very capable of playing at this level and he's going to have to make that choice. I expect better things from him.

"I know (Tuesday) will be a big day for him. It's not just one game, but we want him to be consistent and play hard."

Savard said there are other options at center should Kontiola not cut it, one of which is using Kane there like in Monday's scrimmage.

"You guys saw I had Kane at center," Savard said "He might be a good center, who knows?"

Tip-ins: Corey Crawford starts Tuesday night and will play the entire game in goal. ... The preseason opener is close to being a sellout.