Eager feeling like himself again
Ben Eager was back at practice for the Blackhawks on Sunday, but coach Joel Quenneville said it would be optimistic to think the left winger would play as soon as Thursday at Phoenix.
Eager has missed the last 11 games with a concussion but said it was nothing caused by playing in the first two games of the season against Florida in Finland.
“It wasn't so much a concussion, I just didn't feel right when I came back (to start training camp)," Eager said. "I tried to play through it, but I didn't feel myself."
Quenneville said he wasn't aware Eager wasn't feeling himself as he went through camp.
"I don't think his play was at the level it was last year and then we found out why," Quenneville said. "It's night and day from where he was at the start of training camp to where he is today. Hopefully it doesn't reoccur. He's feeling way better, so that's a good sign."
The Hawks need Eager back on the fourth line that hasn’t been the same without him and Adam Burish. A fourth line of Eager, Colin Fraser and Tomas Kopecky would be a step back in the right direction.
“Last year we were in the other team’s end a lot and we were there to give the team a lift,” Eager said. “Hopefully we can get back to that.”
Jonathan Toews did not skate again Sunday, which doesn’t bode well for him playing this week.
Toews has missed the last four games with a concussion suffered on that hit from Vancouver’s Willie Mitchell almost two weeks ago.
"Every day you come in and you're hoping we get him on the ice and that he's cleared to go," Quenneville said. "We'll just leave it at day-to-day and hope we get him out there soon."
So what was the best costume at the Hawks’ Halloween party?
How about Patrick Sharp going as Joel Quenneville?
“I just saw the picture and I thought he enhanced the profile,” said a laughing Quenneville.
Marian Hossa took some shifts at center at practice Sunday but only out of necessity with Dave Bolland getting the day off to rest his back.
“I think he looks good no matter where he plays,” Quenneville said. “I asked him if he ever played center and he said he did before he came over (to North America).”
trbosh33 you hit the nail on the head. i couldn't agree more. and if d'agostini is out for a long period of time, who's going to run the pizza business? the man makes a mean pizza.
The biggest problem has been the goaltending and how is that is going to improve when Eager returns? Yes Huet has played well in spurts as usual but experience shows he's not a 60 game answer. Niemi has been awesome as a back up with no experience but how does he stay sharp through all of this as they try to build Huet back up? I would like to see Niemi go down to Rockford soon for a handful of games to keep his game fresh.
The second problem that needs to be pointed out is that there still isn't a first line center who can pass the puck on the roster. Hossa is a top end guy but his best years have been with centers who can dish the puck. Bolland to me is not a first line guy. Toews is a horse who wins all the battles but not a great passing guy. Madden is clearly slowing down and not that guy. Fraser is a perfect 4th line center. Ebbet hasn't stood out yet. I think they need to keep tinkering up the middle and find a playmaker.
This team has the 5th best GAA in the league right now and it's biggest problem is goaltending??? I'm sorry, but while Huet has let in a few bad goals in the early going, goaltending is not the big problem facing this team. The goal scoring is middle of the pack right now and the power play is 20th in the league.
The team can't seem to score on a 5-3 and now seems to have a bad habit of taking too many 2nd and 3rd period penalties. The biggest problem is that the team can't take advantage of their chances to score. Now, to be fair to the Hawks, their best goal producing player hasn't played yet and another one of their top 3 is on the shelf, but they need to improve to have success.
I could not agree more with this assessment. Eager is not going to stop more shots or help the PP which has been an issue the last couple of weeks. And until proven otherwise Bolland is a third line center that may grow into a top six forward down the road.
The lack of playmakers at center really stands out without Toews out there on the first line but even when he is there they are a bit thin offensively at center. I like what each guy does in specific phases but no single guy is a great playmaker and none beyond Toews are scorers. The Hawks best playmakers are Versteeg and Kane obviously. Kane will never move off the wing but I would not be stunned to see Versteeg playing center again one day. Otherwise they might have to shore this up at the trade deadline or in the offseason.
Toronto Maple Leafs halloween party: Komisarik dressed up as Michael Jackson, and someone else dressed up as one of the Williams' sisters. Blackhawks: McDonough or Tallon or both should have a Bernie Madoff facemask(the financial investm,ent cheat now in prison). They've given away more of Rocky's money than necessary. The solution: a sacrificial lamb next June will be either Versteeg or Sharp. Do you have some other nominee that makes more sense? Maybe Barker, but if he improves somewhat then we have a deep defense, which will be a team strength.
Bufuglien and Ladd will be cheaper to retain, and we must have their size/aggressiveness because Aliu and Beech won't be ready the following year. Moreover, with Toewes and Eager concussion INJ history, we need to keep whatever skilled players we have. Can't compete if you are too easily intimidated or pushed around. Love that net presence, too. For years I've called Troy Murray once or twice on the post game and m,oaned about that -- now we have net presence but PP woes continue. The team will improve on the PP this year, butmy gosh, the Blackhawks for years and years have been embarassing all too often on the PP.
Not a concussion, but he didnt feel right? that doesnt bode well for a guy that is counted on to be agressive on the forecheck, agitate and drop them from time to time.
Hope he can come back and play at 100%, if he cant, there is a need to find someone who can.
not pimps. Toews and Burish were Lloyd and Harry from dumb and dumber.....
You're completely right, Macko.
I totally missed Tazer and Burish's costumes were from Dumb and Dumber.
I think that makes me like them even more!
I'm excited to see Eager back in the lineup--the team (especially the 4th line) could use his speed, hustle, and sand. However, there's no rush for any of these guys to return before their heads are clear.
Toews and Burish's pimp costumes are going to be tough to beat.
I'm a very big Eager fan, especially on a team full of non-physical guys who often skate away rather than stand up for their team mates (Versteeg should not be the one to go after Mitchell, for example).
In my view, he is a momentum changer that keeps the other team's best players from going into the corners or into the traffic areas. You better know where Eager is or he will put you in the 2nd row.
Hope he is healthy, and wish we had three more of him. That kind of heart, desire and balls is tough to find.
Welcome back, Eags.
Ben will be very welcome back on the ice. He skates very well as a role-player and can light the lamp for us, too.
It will be good to see him on the ice, but I'd be interested to see how he can light the lamp. Last year his shooting% was really high, which means he was either lucky or just extremely efficient with his chances. I'm thinking it was a bit of both with hard work paying off with a little bit of luck.
Yes, CanadianHawksFan, Ben is certainly no sniper with his shot. I am thinking of former role players who improved their goal scoring year by year, with experience and more ice time. Right now, the only one coming to my mind, though, is Vic Hadfield, the old Ranger. Perhaps it is optimism and Blackhawk obsession on my part.
Jack Skille sat out the Icehogs game Saturday night in Rockford due to an "upper body injury". It was his night to sign autographs in the concourse. My son, being a huge Skille fan insisted we get an autograph.
So, we went out and there sits Jack, signing autographs, in his Teletubbie costume! It was hilarious!!!