Yawney's teachings paying big dividends

EDMONTON, Alberta - When the Blackhawks beat San Jose last Saturday, Sharks assistant coach Trent Yawney had to feel just a bit of pride in the big efforts turned in by defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

Yawney helped develop both players when he coached the Hawks' American Hockey League affiliate at Norfolk and was especially instrumental with Keith becoming one of the best defenders in the NHL.

"I think everyone knows how much Yawns helped me," Keith said.

Keith always has had the dazzling speed, but it was Yawney, as a former defenseman himself, who helped him learn positioning, how to work the boards and how to use his stick as a critical tool in defending.

"There was a lot of people in the organization that didn't think he would ever play, but he is such a sponge for getting better," Yawney said. "He's one of the best in the league defending in terms of taking ice away and he's always had the offensive part of his game. He's always well positioned defensively.

"He's learned how to defend, and that's a credit to him, but that comes with experience, too."

Keith is approaching 300 career games and is getting better and better with that experience.

"It takes everyone different time to feel comfortable, but the more games you play the more comfortable you're going to feel, especially being a defenseman because it's such a difficult position," Keith said.

"It's a feeling now of being relaxed, like you can control a game. I think a lot of times as a young guy coming up you're out there just trying not to make mistakes and fit in."

Buddy system: Funny how Patrick Kane and Edmonton's Sam Gagner not only are good friends, but they both are battling through ankle problems.

Gagner returned to the Oilers' lineup Tuesday after missing three games with a bad ankle he first hurt in November.

"It's not going to be 100 percent for the rest of the year and I realize that, but at the same time, there's nothing structurally wrong with it," Gagner said. "Long-term, it isn't going to affect me."

That's what Kane has said. He hurt his ankle on Dec. 30 in Detroit on a check by Dan Cleary and still is feeling gimpy on some nights.

Kane went into the game with the Oilers with just 1 goal in his last 15 games.

Tip-ins: Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane signed endorsement deals with Chevrolet on Tuesday to appear in ads and make appearances. ... Cristobal Huet made his 24th start Tuesday compared to 25 for Nikolai Khabibulin. ... Aaron Johnson and Craig Adams were the healthy scratches.