Could Bryan Bickell return to Blackhawks soon?
CALGARY, Alberta – The Blackhawks may be thousands of miles away from Chicago and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, right now. But they’ve kept an eye on IceHogs box scores, and how Bryan Bickell is putting up big numbers in them.
And as Bickell looks like he’s regaining confidence in his game, one wonders if he soon regains a spot in the Blackhawks’ lineup.
Bickell has eight points (four goals, four assists) in five games with the IceHogs. So could he be back soon?
The Blackhawks sent Bickell to Rockford on Nov. 2. The move came after plenty of healthy scratches and placing him on waivers as the regular season began. Bickell has struggled with his game and, in turn, his confidence; consistency has been an issue since he signed his four-year, $16-million deal out of the 2013 Stanley Cup run.
But it looks like the trip to Rockford is having the right effect on Bickell’s game.
Quenneville isn’t tipping his hand on when Bickell could return. But given Bickell’s current hot streak, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Blackhawks recall him soon.
— Teuvo Teravainen may miss a few games with his upper-body injury, Quenneville said. The forward played a few minutes into the second period before heading to the locker room on Wednesday night.
— Scott Darling will start against the Calgary Flames on Friday night.
— Andrew Desjardins, who has been a healthy scratch for the past three games, is likely to draw back into the lineup with Teravainen sidelined.