Quenneville: Versteeg very upset about latest injury

The Kris Versteeg comeback tour has been canceled for about three weeks, according to Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.

Versteeg, whose injured knee finally looked to be fully rehabbed, suffered a lower-body injury in practice Tuesday and his return to the lineup is up in the air.

“Yeah, kind of frustrating, disappointing for him,” Quenneville said. “He was very upset with what happened there. We're disappointed too because we really felt that he gives us a lot of versatility and options in our game, the penalty-killing, getting more ice time for him.

“It looks like he found that stride he was looking for. We want to get him back to that pace when he gets back. We'll get excited again when he gets closer to getting back to our lineup.”

Though Quenneville said that Versteeg's injury will not require a surgical procedure, he didn't rule out the chance that Versteeg may be placed on long-term injured reserve.

“I don't know yet. I don't yet,” Quenneville said. “Right now, I don't think so. We'll see what happens.”

One thing for sure is that Ben Smith will replace Versteeg on the third line.

“Ben Smith, he's Mr. Versatility with us,” Quenneville said. “He's going to move up to that spot. He'll get some of that ice time and will start on that line.”

Quenneville said that Versteeg's loss will not affect the organization's plans for Teuvo Teravainen.

“We haven't discussed that,” he said.” You know, we want him playing right now. And right now, center ice is solid and that's where we want him playing right now.”

Feeling good:

Bryan Bickell came into camp in great shape, and now he's hoping the extra work he did over the off-season will translate into a strong regular season — and beyond.

“Hopefully I'm going to have a really, really good year,” Bickell said. “I'm excited to come into the season in the best shape I've been in in a long time, and hopefully I can get my mindset to have a good start and get myself confidence.

“I've got to bring my mindset to where it was at the end of the year. Repeat it in my head to know what I have to do night in and night out and be effective for this team.”

In the past, Bickell, who has been strong in the postseason, said it would be tough for that kind of performance to translate into the long grind that is the regular season.

In other words: it's a fine line.

“I've got to try and find that line and ride that line all the way to the playoffs,” he said. “It's a long season. I need to bring out more now than I did in the previous years. I feel in shape and comfortable where I am. I just need to have a good start and build some confidence.”

Numbers guy?

Jonathan Toews' take on advance stats in hockey?

“I heard about that but I don't really follow it,” the Hawks' captain said. “I think when you watch hockey you see the things that mean the most for a team to be a winning team kind of jump out at you. I don't think you really need to look that deep, but I guess there are some ways you can find truths and patterns and things that maybe not so good teams repeat and make changes to that.

“I don't look that close at the game. If I did I'd be thinking too much and I already think enough as it is out there.”

He said it:

“Yep.”

— Joel Quenneville, when asked if Corey Crawford will start in the opener tonight against Dallas.