Outlook seems good for swift Kane recovery

Joel Quenneville didn't commit to anything, but there was excitement in his voice when talking about Patrick Kane's recovery.

Asked if he's hopeful Kane can return before the estimated 12-week timeline for surgery to repair the star forward's collarbone, the Blackhawks's coach cracked a smile Friday after the morning skate.

"I've always hoped that," Quenneville said. "We'll see."

Kane, who recently began skating on his own, would miss the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs if he needs all 12 weeks. He was injured Feb. 24 in the first period of a game against the Florida Panthers, tumbling shoulder first into the side wall after a crosscheck by defenseman Alex Petrovic, and had surgery the next day.

It's now a month into the recovery process and early reports are good. Kane's mobility is returning, but his return date won't happen without the approval of the Hawks' medical staff, which is headed up by team physician Dr. Michael Terry.

"I think it's the same timetable, but how well he's skating and how well he's doing, I think he feels really good about where he's at," Quenneville said. "It's just a matter of when he can get that green light (from doctors) is probably going to be the hurdle. We like his approach. He's doing a lot of things out there he wants to do or is able to do. That's a good sign."

Morin returns:

Jeremy Morin had been inside the visitor's locker room at the United Center before Friday, but only as a prospect during preseason scrimmages.

He wore the logo of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, while making his first return to Chicago after a December trade that sent him away. Morin, 23, had eight goals and eight assists in 54 games spread over parts of five seasons for the Hawks, who acquired him in 2010 in a trade with the former Atlanta Thrashers.

While with the Hawks, Morin spent most of his time in the AHL, where he roomed at various points in Rockford with former prospects Brandon Pirri, Ryan Stanton, Brandon Bollig, Adam Clendening and Jimmy Hayes. All six were traded and now play for different NHL teams.

"I think that we've all moved on from (the trades)," Morin said. "We were all grateful for the time that we had with the Blackhawks, but we're all in our own situations and I think we're trying to make the most of them and just trying to have success in our careers somewhere else."

Baun, Paliotta arrive:

Newly-signed college players Kyle Baun and Michael Paliotta got their first look inside the Blackhawks' locker room Friday, a day after each signed two year entry-level contracts.

Baun, a power forward who signed as a college free agent, arrived later than Paliotta, a 6-foot-4 defenseman the Hawks took in the third round of the 2011 draft. Each will stay in the NHL for the remaining eight games of the regular season.

"I think both guys have a chance to get integrated with our team," Quenneville said. "How that plays out as far as playing games, we'll see."

Boll suspended:

Crystal Lake's Jared Boll, a power forward for the Blue Jackets, didn't play while serving the first of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit.