Coach Q: Jonathan Toews doesn’t have a serious injury

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Updated: February 26, 2012 8:17AM

Coach Joel Quenneville made sure to squelch any notions that Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews’ left hand/wrist injury had gotten worse.

“The injury, we said, is not serious — because it’s not,” Quenneville said. “Hopefully, he can make some good progress this week.”

Toews, who isn’t wearing a cast, was put on injured reserve and missed his first game of the season Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. As expected, he was replaced on the All-Star team as Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Hartnell took his spot.

Toews’ placement on IR was a procedural move with the team in need of a center. It freed up a roster spot for center Brandon Pirri to be called up from Rockford. Toews is eligible to return next Tuesday against the Canucks in Vancouver.

Toews and Patrick Sharp (wrist fracture) will travel with the Hawks to Vancouver on Monday with the hope that both will be able to play against the Canucks as they open their nine-game road trip. They play the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames after the Canucks.

“They’ll be on the plane,” Quenneville said. “If they’re both playing? We’ll see.”

Center Dave Bolland took Toews’ spot on the first line with wingers Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg against the Predators. Toews, who has 27 goals and 50 points in 49 games, has missed 27 games over his five-year career because of injuries, missing 16 his rookie season with a sprained knee.

“Hopefully, Toews is not out that long,” Bolland said. “It’s just a minor injury.”

Rookies over Frolik

With Pirri recalled to center the third line, the Hawks had five rookies — Pirri, Andrew Shaw, Jimmy Hayes, Ben Smith and Marcus Kruger — in their lineup.

But Quenneville didn’t think twice about it.

Instead, Michael Frolik, who signed a three-year deal with the Hawks this summer, was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Frolik only has two goals and four assists in the last 28 games. Bryan Bickell, a scratch the last three games, took Frolik’s spot on the fourth line.

“They’ve all done a good job,” Quenneville said of the rookies. “You appreciate their consistency, and [Pirri] coming up, it’s a good opportunity for him. He’s been playing well down there.”

Some, if not all, of the rookies are expected to be sent to Rockford during the All-Star break. The IceHogs have three games during the break, and the Hawks want them to keep playing.

“They look at it as an opportunity, as they should,” forward Jamal Mayers said. “We’ll try to support them and encourage them as veterans.”

Slap shots

Defensemen John Scott and Sami Lepisto joined Frolik as healthy scratches.

◆ The Hawks announced that weekend passes for their annual summer convention (July 20-22) are sold out.