Kane experiment working for Hawks

Some very early observations of the Blackhawks after four games:

ŸPatrick Kane to center was a brilliant move by Joel Quenneville. Kane has 6 points in four games and is flying with all that extra room to work and the puck on his stick more often.

There was skepticism here because of his defensive deficiencies, and those still exist. He's going to turn the puck over in trouble spots, especially the offensive blue line, but you don't want to stifle his creativity and if he produces at this rate you can live with his mistakes.

Kane is second in the league with 8 take-aways (vs. 3 giveaways), and his faceoff win percentage is very good at 56.

ŸThis probably goes without saying, but the offense needs a healthy Marian Hossa for proper balance, and Hossa hasn't been healthy since he got here.

ŸDan Carcillo has 12 hits in two games and looks like he can fit in on any line. It's not a surprise because he has more skill than he's been given credit for in the past, maybe more skill than Carcillo realizes himself.

ŸJonathan Toews is off to a slow start again, but some of that has to do with Patrick Sharp, who is not yet in form. Once Sharp gets going, Toews is going to find more space.

ŸBryan Bickell is 11th in the league in hits (15), and the checking line of Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik and Bickell is plus-3 with 7 points.

ŸAndrew Brunette (2 goals) is going to score a lot this year camping in front of the net, but he's a minus-3 and is admittedly slow at 38 when the pace is blazing.

ŸJamal Mayers needs help on the fourth line. Hurry back Ben Smith.

ŸSean O'Donnell has been a terrific and calming influence on the Hawks' defense. An inexpensive ($850,000), but solid free-agent addition, O'Donnell just turned 40 but he's not acting his age.

ŸIt's only a matter of time before Quenneville puts Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook back together. Keith still looks like the Keith of last year, which is not good for the Hawks. Again, very early, but Keith has no points in four games and is minus-1 while already averaging 25:51.

ŸNick Leddy has grown into a solid No. 3 or 4. A pairing with Niklas Hjalmarsson might allow him to show more of an offensive presence.

ŸSteve Montador is still feeling his way with the Hawks, but a pairing with O'Donnell is a very comforting third set.

ŸBackup goalie Ray Emery was not good in the preseason and looked awful in his first start, boxing pucks and losing his net and posts. It's only one game, but you wonder how long that leash is going to be.

ŸWhile not yet back to the depth or skill level of the Stanley Cup winning season, the Hawks have more NHL players on the roster than last season, and they have kids on the way.

Bearing down

Last year it took Mike Martz seven games to decide he wanted his QB to live through the season. This year, only five games.

That's progress.

However, comma, this whole max protect thing is fine when you're playing a team like Minnesota that can't cover anyone. That's not going to work against NFL teams.

Illinois racing

Still waiting for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to explain why he wants to put the racetracks out of business, thus killing jobs and revenue streams, but he took a big step in that direction Monday when he said, “We're talking about casinos at racetracks. Don't kid yourself. That would be 14 new casinos in Illinois if you allow casinos at racetracks.”

If you're going to expand gambling, what difference does it make how many more casinos you add? If people want to gamble, they're going to find a place, so why not give the tracks a fighting chance?

Here's hoping this is just posturing on Quinn's part as he tries to get from the bill what he wants.

Just coaching

Jim Harbaugh has been a good coach everywhere he's been and is getting great results in San Francisco, but it doesn't change the fact that he's an absolute loon.

This just in …

Rex Grossman is back to being Rex Grossman. Wow, who could have seen that coming?

Best tweet

Sportspickle.com: “Say what you want about Kyle Shanahan, but he's the best offensive coordinator of Mike Shanahan's children.''

Best headline

The Onion: “Citizens of Winnipeg realize they hate hockey now.''

And finally …

Omaha World-Herald's Brad Dickson: “Peyton Manning underwent treatment in Europe where fat cells in his stomach were relocated to his neck to regenerate nerves. In a related story, fat cells were relocated from Tony Siragusa's stomach to create a 20-acre amusement park in upstate New York.''

#376;Hear Barry Rozner on WSCR 670-AM and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.