Hawks rookie Brandon Saad sent back to junior team
It was a good run while it lasted for Brandon Saad.
The Blackhawks returned the 18-year-old rookie and the surprise of training camp to his junior team in Saginaw on Wednesday afternoon after two games.
Saad averaged 14 minutes in his first two NHL games and was even with no points and 3 shots on goal. He started Friday’s opener at Dallas on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp, but that lasted just one period.
With Daniel Carcillo coming off his suspension, and Viktor Stalberg (knee) and Ben Smith (concussion) recovering from their injuries, the Hawks obviously felt the best thing for Saad was go to back to Saginaw and play regularly.
Stalberg returned to practice and is expected to play soon.
“We’ll see,” Stalberg said. “It felt pretty good (Wednesday). I’ll just take it day by day.”
Saad only could be recalled from juniors if the Hawks have what the NHL terms an “injury emergency,” which is unlikely.
Goalie roulette:Coach Joel Quenneville won#146;t announce a starting goalie for Thursday#146;s game against Winnipeg until after the morning skate.Corey Crawford is the likely choice after returning to practice Wednesday. Crawford has a minor injury he says is not related to the groin issue that bothered him in training camp.#147;We#146;ll see how it feels after the morning skate and we#146;ll make a decision if I play,#148; said Crawford, who skipped practice on Monday and Tuesday. #147;You#146;ve got to take care of stuff sometimes, whether it#146;s rest or whatever. Our coaches are pretty smart about that.#148;Backup Ray Emery missed practice Wednesday with the flu and is questionable for Thursday.Rookie Alexander Salak was recalled from Rockford in care he is needed to play.Numbers game: The Hawks#146; roster sits at 23, including three goalies, with Viktor Stalberg and Smith still officially on injured reserve.If Stalberg can#146;t play Thursday, Rostislav Olesz likely would skate on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Jamal Mayers.Welcome back: With Winnipeg in town, Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien will make their first trip back to the United Center since helping the Hawks win the 2010 Stanley Cup.Ladd and Byfuglien only faced the Hawks in Atlanta last season with the Thrashers.#147;I#146;m excited to get back there,#148; Ladd said. #147;There are a lot of great memories and it will be great to see the banner.#148;Remember when:The last time the Hawks played the Winnipeg Jets was Feb. 23, 1996, when they were shutout by Nikolai Khabibulin 1-0 at the old Winnipeg Arena.That Jets#146; lineup also featured Eddie Olczyk, Dave Manson and Alex Zhamnov.The Hawks#146; lineup that night included Jeremy Roenick, Denis Savard, Tony Amonte, Chris Chelios, Bernie Nicholls, Eric Daze, Bob Probert and Steve Smith.The Jets moved to Phoenix in the summer of 1996. That was the same summer the Hawks traded Roenick to the Coyotes for Zhamnov in one of the worst deals in franchise history.