World Cup absences give others a shot
The Blackhawks held their first scrimmage Saturday at their annual training- camp festival. And while a near- capacity crowd at the United Center made plenty of noise, it was a little quieter than usual behind the benches.
That’s because coach Joel Quenneville is still in Toronto, serving as an assistant for Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey.
‘‘ It’s definitely pretty weird,’’ forward Ryan Hartman said.
Along with Quenneville, nine opening- day locks and prospect Ville Pokka are still absent from camp. Patrick Kane, Michal Kempny and Pokka will rejoin the Hawks on Tuesday ( though Kane won’t play in the preseason opener Wednesday against the Penguins). But seven other Hawks — Jonathan Toews, Corey Crawford, Marian Hossa, Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Marcus Kruger — are still in Toronto. And Duncan Keith ( knee) is only skating in practices.
So while Quenneville isn’t around to impress ( or disappoint), the first seven to 10 days of camp present a huge opportunity for the next generation of Hawks trying to earn a roster spot.
‘‘ It definitely opens it up,’’ Hartman said. ‘‘ It’s 10 [ fewer] guys that they’re watching, and it kind of opens up for us to make plays and showcase what we can do.’’
Assistants Kevin Dineen and Mike Kitchen are running camp while Quenneville is away. Dineen’s White team beat Kitchen’s Red team 4- 3, with Spencer Abbott scoring twice for the White team and Vinnie Hinostroza scoring twice in a 10- minute, three- onthree overtime for the Red team.
Job hunting
Dineen, who formerly coached the Panthers, was a candidate for the Avalanche’s coaching job that opened when Patrick Roy abruptly quit in August.
Dineen said he was grateful the Hawks allowed him to interview, but he’s quite happy working for Quenneville. He also suggested some teams might have him in to pick his brain about how the Hawks do things.
‘‘ When you have success, a lot of people want to plagiarize and get [ some] feedback or whatever it is,’’ Dineen said. ‘‘ For me, I couldn’t be happier right here.’’
Soup’s on
Defenseman Brian Campbell looked sharp in his return to the United Center, back in his familiar No. 51 jersey. Dineen said his fitness test Thursday ‘‘ came back spectacular in terms of his ability to play a lot of minutes.’’
‘‘ I’m biased because I had him three years in Florida and I know what he can do, the poise he has out there,’’ Dineen said. ‘‘ I think he toyed with a few of these kids.’’
Follow me on Twitter @ MarkLazerus.