Sitting not in Campbell’s skill set
But healthy scratch likely as Hawks juggle eight D- men
“I’ve played every game the last little while here. I’m not used to it, obviously, if that’s the case.” Brian Campbell, about potentially being a healthy scratch
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Defenseman Brian Campbell sounded more perplexed than perturbed as he discussed the possibility he’d be a healthy scratch just five games into the season.
“It’s not up to me,” Campbell said. “There’s not much I can do about it.”
In five seasons with the Florida Panthers, Campbell didn’t miss a single regularseason game. Meanwhile, last season with the Blackhawks, Trevor van Riemsdyk played in all 82 games. But the Panthers didn’t have the kind of defensive depth the Hawks have now. And neither did the Hawks.
And so, after one poor game, van Riemsdyk sat the next three. And Campbell, the Hawks’ biggest offseason acquisition, could be a healthy scratch Friday night in Columbus. Coach Joel Quenneville didn’t explicitly say that after Thursday’s practice, but he did say van Riemsdyk was back in, and Campbell worked outside the top six for a second straight day.
That’s life with eight defensemen. Heck, Michal Rozsival hasn’t even gotten in a game yet.
“We have a good group here, and Trevor played 82 games, as well, last year,” Campbell said. “There’s lots of depth here, which is a great thing. It’s not my call. I don’t make the decisions — that’s up to the coaching staff.”
Campbell, a left- handed shot who played the left side in Florida, spent the first four games on his off side with a 20- year- old rookie, Gustav Forsling. He has been a victim of his own versatility; Quenneville said he’d prefer to use him on the left, but the Hawks’ glut of left- handed shots has forced him to the right.
Even as Campbell adjusts to seeing everything “backwards,” as he put it, the pairing hasn’t been playing terribly. But they haven’t been driving possession, either. And it seems it’ll be Campbell, not Forsling, headed for the press box Friday.
Even if Quenneville pulled a swerve and sat another defenseman for Campbell, it would raise eyebrows. Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmars- son and Brent Seabrook are stalwarts. Michal Kempny has been a solid addition from the KHL. And Forsling has been the darling of the Hawks coaching staff and front office and will be given every chance to succeed.
“Eight defensemen, we’ve got some decisions to make as we go along here,” Quenneville said. “Things change quickly in our business, par- ticularly on the back end.”
Forsling’s emergence and van Riemsdyk’s quick benching immediately led to speculation about van Riemsdyk’s availability on the trade market. A Sportsnet report said the Hawks were floating the 25- year- old’s name in an attempt to land a forward. Van Riemsdyk is doing his best to block out the noise and regain his job.
“You can’t worry yourself with stuff like that,” he said. “You’ve got to come to work every day, and that type of stuff, you don’t control, so you can’t really pay it much attention.”
Quenneville said he simply wanted to get van Riemsdyk back in the lineup and that he doesn’t “want to see the same guys sitting out for extended periods of time.” So it could be like this for a while. That could prove beneficial in the long run for some of the more weary Hawks. But durability always has been one of the 37- year- old Campbell’s greatest assets.
“I’ve played every game the last little while here,” he said. “I’m not used to it, obviously, if that’s the case [ being scratched]. Personally, I don’t think I’m overtaxed or anything like that. Sometimes you look at your big guys, especially forwards that can play 22, 23 minutes a night — it’s definitely taxing throughout a season. But I don’t put myself in that category.”
NOTES:
Marian Hossa, who was hurt blocking a shot Tuesday night, will not play in Columbus. Quenneville said “it’s possible” Hossa plays Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Co
rey Crawford will start in Columbus, so Scott Darling likely will play Saturday.