Goaltender Jimmy Waite has agreed to report to the minors for a two-week conditioning period.
Waite hasn`t been able to keep himself sharp because Ed Belfour has started 25 consecutive games.
Coach and General Manager Mike Keenan recalled Dominik Hasek from the Indianapolis Ice and said he would start Hasek while he is with the team. Weeks ago, Keenan said Belfour wouldn`t dominate starts the way he did last season, but that hasn`t been the case.
Keenan explained, however, that he has played Belfour so extensively because he missed the first 14 games over a contract dispute. ”We had to play him because he missed so much hockey,” he said. ”Jimmy or Dominik will play 25 percent of the remaining games.
”We have an obligation to prepare the team for the playoffs. Part of that is to have another goaltender playing.”
Waite is scheduled to play eight games during his 14-day assignment with Indy. He started Thursday-and lost, 6-3 to Muskegon. He could have refused to go because he has been in the NHL long enough that the only non-voluntary way he can be sent to the minors is after clearing waivers. Some other NHL club would definitely pick up the young prospect if he was on waivers.
Waite must return to the Hawks after the two weeks expires. ”Unless he agrees he wants to stay longer,” Keenan said.
It will take some arm twisting to make Waite agree to that.
All-stars: Ed Belfour and Chris Chelios will be among the starters for the Campbell Conference in the All-Star Game Jan. 18 in Philadelphia.
Belfour was the top goaltender with 180,823 votes to 107,822 for Kirk McLean of Vancouver. Cheliosranked second among defensemen with 251,838 votes to 277,771 for Al MacInnis of Calgary.
Other starters will be the Kings` Wayne Gretzky (219,257) at center and wingers Brett Hull of St. Louis (339,706) and Luc Robitaille of Los Angeles
(163,000).
On hold: Keenan was asked about his chances to make another trade by the March deadline. ”Maybe a player will come along who makes a lot of sense,” he said.
But he thinks his group should have done better than 15-16-9 and isn`t ready to give up on them. He also is looking forward to Stephane Matteau`s debut at left wing, probably in late January or early February, and defenseman Bryan Marchment`s return next week from a fractured cheekbone.
He likes him: Rumors that Philadelphia`s Rick Tocchet is available leads to the inevitable question of whether Keenan would be interested in the winger, who used to play for him and was part of his Canada Cup champs last year.
”Whether he`s unhappy or not, I know once he gets on the ice he`s a competitor,” Keenan said. ”I`ve heard the same things you have, but I don`t know if Tocchet can be gotten in a trade.”
