Hinostroza is the latest small forward
Vinnie Hinostroza is listed on the Blackhawks’ roster as 5-9. And considering Patrick Kane, Andrew Shaw, Teuvo Teravainen and Artemi Panarin are all listed conveniently— and perhaps a bit generously— as 5-11, it goes without saying that Hinostroza is small by NHL standards.
But size has never been the Hawks’ biggest concern, as those undersized forwards prove. So with the offense struggling to the tune of one goal in two games, Hinostroza was the first man up, recalled Friday afternoon to replace the demoted Kyle Baun.
Hinostroza, a Bartlett native who impressed coach Joel Quenneville with a strong camp, made his NHL debut Saturday night.
“As a smaller player, I have a lot of speed and I really showed my speed to carry the puck,” Hinostroza said. “I play hard, too— I’m not afraid to hit. I really just want to create some energy out here for these guys [and] have a good game.”
Hinostroza, who had 11 goals and 33 assists in 42 games as a sophomore at Notre Dame last season, will center the third line, with Teravainen on his left and Ryan Garbutt on his right.
“I think there’s room for smaller players in the game now,” Quenneville said. “Quickness, speed and hockey sense with smaller guys have to come into play. . . . With and without the puck, there’s a certain way you have to play, and you shouldn’t be denied where you have to go around the ice if you’re a smaller guy. If that’s the case, you’re probably not going to get to this level.”
Hinostroza was expecting a handful of family members to attend the game, as he becomes the latest local product to break through with his favorite team, following in the footsteps of Scott Darling and Ryan Hartman. He said nerves could be an issue, and that his first shift “might kind of be all over the place,” but he’d channel the nerves into a positive.
“It’s so exciting,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to this day since I was 4 or 5. It’s unbelievable— I get to put the jersey on tonight, to wear the Blackhawks jersey.”
Bickell moves up
Bryan Bickell was the latest left winger to get a crack on the top line Saturday. The previous two— Garbutt and Viktor
Tikhonov— were each a healthy scratch the following game. Quenneville said Thursday’s game in Washington was one of Bickell’s best.
“It gives him an opportunity,” Quenneville said. “He’s been fine; he’s picked up his play. Simpler is always better with him. Just because you’re playing with [ Jona- than Toews and Marian Hossa], try to keep that mindset. Don’t get out of your bag of tricks. Up and down, be physical, get to the net, shoot when you can and be hard to play against. Simple as that. We saw him have success in the playoffs. Let’s try to find and bottle that.”
Michal Rozsival rejoined the team for the morning skate. Because he’s on long-term injured reserve, he’s not eligible to play until Nov. 2.
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