Toews progressing slowly, casting doubt on return
Goaltender Petr Mrázek left Chicago Blackhawks practice early Monday after getting hit by a puck, but coach Luke Richardson wasn’t concerned.
“I just saw him in the hallway, he looked fine — he probably wanted to get out of practice early,” Richardson quipped.
The outcome was more serious for forward Cole Guttman: He requires shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
Guttman was a surprise find by the Hawks in free agency, racking up four goals and two assists in 14 games, but he had been playing through a shoulder injury since November and the Hawks don’t want his injury to bleed into next season.
“We got him as far as we could,” Richardson said. “I was dragging it out as long as I could. Yeah, he’s on his way to LA to have that done. He should be fine for training camp. He’s (shown) enough.”
So the roster churn continues for the Hawks.
Anders Bjork and Austin Wagner have been sidelined by undisclosed injuries but might be able to join the Hawks during an upcoming five-game trip. Meanwhile, the Hawks called up forwards Mike Hardman and Buddy Robinson from Rockford.
Robinson hasn’t played for the Hawks since the season opener Oct. 12 in Colorado, and Hardman hasn’t played in the NHL since getting in 21 games last season. They’re getting a chance because the Boston Bruins, who come to the United Center on Tuesday night, are “a bigger, heavier team,” Richardson said. “It’s the right time, a smart time to do that and they can both move out there, too, for big guys.”
Later Monday, the Hawks agreed on a three-year, entry-level contract with Notre Dame forward Ryder Rolston that carries an $895,000 salary cap hit.
Here are three more things we learned.
1. The Hawks see an advantage in being the underdog.
The Hawks followed up a fivegame winning streak with seven losses in their last eight games, but during many of those losses they threw a scare into teams fighting for the playoffs.
With the Hawks long out of the postseason picture, they’ve been able to play loose.
“Maybe some of those other teams are playing a little tighter knowing that they need points for their playoff race,” defenseman Connor Murphy said. “We’re the underdog and … that can sometimes play in your favor of not being afraid to make mistakes and going into games and trying to prove yourself.”
Richardson agreed: “No matter if a team says they take us lightly or they’re in a bit of a tight position because they’re in a playoff race and they need points so they’re feeling the heat, but that’s professional sports. … We would die for that position right now.”
The Hawks have had to cobble together lineups after trade-deadline turnover, a rash of injuries and call-ups to plug holes, but you’d never notice the difference.
“Our whole year, we’ve had a pretty tight group,” forward Taylor Raddysh said, “and even when the guys come in, we’ve known them from either camp or the years before, so it’s kind of been an easy transition for all of them.
“It’s obviously hard when you’ve got a lot of new guys coming in, but I feel like we’ve done a good job (of ) everyone buying in and playing their role.”
Richardson credits younger players building bonds in Rockford and veterans such as Murphy and Jarred Tinordi taking on leadership roles in the absence of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Jake McCabe because of trades or health reasons.
“There’s a closeness here and I think guys that come in feel comfortable,” Richardson said. “They’re invited into that closeness, and it’s been a good job by Murph and Tinner and Tyler Johnson and those guys who are here taking over from missing Toews and Kane and Jake and guys that we lost.
“It’s a really good transition of the message and the foundation we wanted to start here this year.”
2. Jarred Tinordi shows his mettle.
Two games ago, the Hawks defenseman plastered the Florida Panthers’ Sam Einhart to help spring Boris Katchouk for a first-period goal.
Since returning from a broken jaw, Tinordi has been in three fights — including his first game back on Feb. 11. Earlier this season he needed more than 100 stitches after a skate blade cut his chin.
“Nowadays, those surgeries, it’s almost like the old ‘Bionic Man’ show — you’re stronger when you come back,” Richardson said. “When it heals, the doctor gives you that timeline and they put metal in your body. Once the bone heals around it, it’s actually stronger than the other areas of your body that don’t have it.”
Richardson credits Tinordi for still playing “all out, full on.”
“That’d be the guy, if you owned a bar, you’d hire him as your bouncer,” Richardson said. “He looks in control and people are unsure and they don’t mess around.”
3. Jonathan Toews is progressing slowly, casting doubt on a return this season.
Richardson saw Toews at Fifth Third Arena on Monday, but the Hawks coach can’t foresee when or if the captain will return this season after stepping away to deal with long COVID symptoms and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS).
“I didn’t speak to him. He’s still in that same first step of just gym workout,” Richardson said. “Unfortunately, he hasn’t progressed to the ice. We don’t have a timeline for that.”
Toews last played Jan. 28 in Edmonton and only 16 games remain in the season. He would need time to ramp up before returning to a game.
“The good thing is he is a veteran and he’s played through a lot of stuff over the years, so he knows what it does take,” Richardson said. “He probably (would) want and we’d also want him to have some reps with the team to just get ready.”