Bickell plans to find his game in Rockford
Bryan Bickell practiced with the AHL’s Rockford Ice-Hogs for the first time Tuesday.
“It was nice to get back on the ice and get back playing hockey,” Bickell told the media in Rockford. “Being down here is going to be the next step in that speed bump in my career. Work down here, and good things will happen.”
Not a lot of good things were happening for Bickell with the Blackhawks. Coach Joel Quenneville tried Bickell all over the lineup, but the winger was scoreless in seven games. On Monday, Bickell was demoted, and the Hawks called up Marko Dano.
Bickell was a hero of the 2013 championship team, earning a four-year, $16 million deal that summer. He was put on waivers last month and cleared.
At least Bickell will get regular playing time to straighten out his game.
“It’s tough up there with the minutes you get every night,” Bickell said. “You never know if you’re in or out of the lineup. Now I’m down here to get those minutes and contribute. Just playing my game, getting the puck deep, getting to the net. Shooting the puck I think is the biggest thing. Just getting confidence in myself.”
Bickell didn’t do that consistently enough with the Hawks, and now he’s with the Ice-Hogs for the first time since the 2009-10 season. He still believes he can play and contribute in the NHL.
“They’re going to give me more opportunities to get more ice time and get my confidence back here,” Bickell said. “At the start of the year when I got put on waivers, I knew eventually this day might come and prepared for it. It’s disappointing, but at the same time, I just need to get my confidence back, get back playing my game and it’ll all work out.”
Health report
Quenneville said Michal Rozsival (broken left ankle) might return next week. Rozsival skated after practice with a small parachute to create more resistance.
“It’s not a fun process right now,” Quenneville said. “You’re getting down to the strokes where it’s almost painful out there. Not watching him, but just him.”
As for Duncan Keith (torn meniscus in right knee), Quenneville said he’s getting closer to doing off-ice work and still expected him to miss four to six weeks.
Quenneville ruled Marian Hossa (lower-body injury) out of the game Wednesday against the Blues.
Canada’s Q
Quenneville reportedly will be named an assistant Thursday for Team Canada in the World Cup of Hockey next summer. The Maple Leafs’ Mike Babcock is expected to be the head coach, and the Bruins’ Claude Julien is expected to be another assistant.
“It would be the thrill of a lifetime,” Quenneville said.
Asked if he has been told anything, a grinning Quenneville said, “I’m not talking about it.”