Bowman, Hawks should be united in seeking center
Stan Bowman will attend his first NHL general managers meeting this week in Toronto as the Blackhawks' GM. The groundwork for trades often is created at the meeting, but after the Hawks went 8-4-1 in October, it didn't seem Bowman would be very interested in tweaking his roster.
But after two road losses in November, during which the Hawks will play eight road games, things might be different. The Hawks have a potential problem that won't be fixed by waiting for center Jonathan Toews and wingers Ben Eager and Marian Hossa to return from injuries.
Dave Bolland, the second-line center who helps the club in many ways, has a nagging back problem that is being closely watched. Last year, Bolland's first full season in the NHL, it hardly was noticeable; he played in 81 regular-season games and all 17 playoff games.
Then something happened. Coach Joel Quenneville said there was ''no defining blow,'' but Bolland's back wasn't right before training camp started. The club even kept him out of a golf outing a week before camp.
Bolland was off the ice for much of camp. On Oct. 8, he was held out of a game at Detroit, and Quenneville has given Bolland frequent days off from practice. He still had to miss the 4-3 shootout loss Friday at Colorado.
It was fortunate that Bowman was able to claim Andrew Ebbett off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks early in the season. Bowman wanted Ebbett to bolster the fourth line, which was missing Eager (concussion) and Adam Burish (knee surgery). Ebbett has been a center most of his career, but the Hawks believed he would be a capable winger as well.
There's no telling if they were right because soon after Ebbett put on his Hawks sweater, Toews went out with a concussion that has sidelined him for six games. Ebbett moved from the fourth line to the second, and Quenneville has praised his work there even though he hasn't tallied a point in seven games as a Hawk.
Toews might be back for the game Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center, but that wouldn't alleviate the Hawks' concern at center. Bowman has been filling only winger spots in his call-ups (Bryan Bickell, Jack Skille, Jake Dowell), so there must not be a center candidate at Rockford. Now might be the time to start looking for one.
The Hawks have other problems. Their power play needs help, with Dustin Byfuglien's goal at Colorado only the third with the man-advantage in the last 34 opportunities. Overall, the Hawks have sputtered offensively with Toews out, scoring only 12 goals in the six games he has missed compared to 31 in the nine he has played.
Eager's return, also expected this week, should improve the Hawks' toughness, which has been lacking on occasion in the 13 games Eager has missed. And, of course, Hossa will be back soon. But there is the danger of expecting him to carry too big of a load too soon. The Hawks don't want that.
So, for the time being, Bowman should be on the prowl for another center -- maybe even one who could help on the power play, just in case.