Daniel Carcillo’s brief-but-tumultuous tenure ends with knee surgery
By Adam L. Jahns ajahns@suntimes.com January 13, 2012 11:12PM
Daniel Carcillo of the Blackhawks talks with a Redwings player in the second period at the United Center Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
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Updated: February 15, 2012 8:10AM
Daniel Carcillo’s run with the Blackhawks started with some trash talk directed at the rival Vancouver Canucks and ended with a violent injury-causing, suspension-worthy bang.
There were three suspensions to serve, five players to fight and 76 hits to make for Carcillo. Now, after 28 games, it’s all over.
The Hawks announced Carcillo will undergo surgery Tuesday for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. A full recovery is expected in six months, just after free agency begins. Carcillo signed a one-year deal July 1.
Carcillo suffered the injury when he checked Edmonton Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert hard into the end boards Jan. 2. Gilbert fell directly on Carcillo’s left leg.
The hit also resulted in Carcillo receiving a seven-game suspension, which ends after the game Sunday against the San Jose Sharks.
“You never want to see a guy get suspended on your team, and you never want to see a guy get hurt,” goalie Ray Emery, a close friend of Carcillo’s from their days with the Philadelphia Flyers, said recently. “He’s my buddy. I treat him as my buddy, not really hockey-wise. I just want to make sure he’s doing OK and his spirits are high.”
Carcillo had a decent run as the protector of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp on the top two lines. He had two goals, 11 points and a plus-10 rating.
But Carcillo had trouble staying in the lineup. When his play started to dip and he wasn’t as physical as hoped for, he was a healthy scratch
Nov. 28 against the Los Angeles Kings. He later missed six games with a concussion after scuffling with the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 14.
Carcillo totaled a team-high 82 penalty minutes, and he had games where his reputation as an abrasive player got him and his team in trouble. His history played a major role in him being suspended nine games for illegal hits. Carcillo also began the season with a two-game ban for getting into an altercation with officials last postseason.
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