The Blackhawks are an equal-opportunity employer.
Every left wing on the team, from grinders to goal scorers, has taken a turn on the top line with center Jeremy Roenick and right wing Steve Larmer.
Even defenseman Bryan Marchment skated a shift with them recently because no one else was impressing coach Darryl Sutter at the time.
Sutter hasn`t found a perfect fit, which is why he has continued to tinker like a fussy cook who keeps tasting his soup because he knows some key ingredient is missing.
Unless the situation stabilizes, though, the Hawks are vulnerable. Roenick and Larmer need a partner, not a revolving-door system that tampers with their skills and cohesion.
The grinders are going to win some games, such as Tuesday`s 6-3 victory in Detroit. But without a consistent effort from Roenick and Larmer, their top two scorers, the Hawks can forget about a return to the Stanley Cup finals.
Perhaps the return of left wing Michel Goulet for Thursday night`s game at the Stadium against Tampa Bay will spice up the No. 1 unit. Roenick needs a boost. He hasn`t scored a goal in his last six games.
”Michel`s good for Jeremy,” Sutter said.
And yet, Sutter hasn`t simply put Goulet on the top line and left him there. In fact, Sutter has scratched him six games this season, feeling that he wasn`t doing well enough to play with anyone.
That has been difficult for Goulet, who has had a proud career. He hopes he can pick up the pieces this season after missing 15 of the first 39 games, the last nine with a groin injury.
”It`s still bugging me,” Goulet said after Wednesday`s practice, ”but I`ve felt pretty good the last few days, and I`ll probably play Thursday. I`d like to get back with Larms and J.R., or whoever.”
Sutter acknowledged that of all the people he has tried on left wing with his leading scorers, Goulet is the best choice.
”Michel`s still probably the best guy for there,” he said. ”But we obviously have two problems with the position: No. 1, consistency, and No. 2, when the top line is checked closer on the road, we`ve got a problem finding a guy who can handle that situation.”
Since the home team has the last line change and can adjust to specific situations, the Hawks run into more challenging matchups on the road. Larmer had well-publicized problems trying to score on the road earlier this season. But in his last 17 games, 11 of Larmer`s 16 goals have been in road games. Most of his production in this span has been on special teams. What he needs now is a left wing, as well as a center, to help him make more impact at even strength.
If Sutter could draw up an ideal left wing for Roenick and Larmer, what qualities would he have?
”Somebody that can play with Roenick`s speed,” Sutter said, ”and cover for him defensively and somebody who can finish.”
Stephane Matteau is expected to be their left wing of the future. But he has only seven goals and eight assists so far. He scored Tuesday, but because Brent Sutter`s shot glanced off his skate on a power play, not because of some great sniper play.
”And I had four goals and five assists after the first 16 games,”
Matteau said. ”It`s been a year of up and down, good and bad. I`m not scoring enough for someone who is capable of scoring 25 or 30 goals a season. That`s because I`m taking just one shot a game.
”I did it last year in the playoffs, and I should do it now. But I`ve got to be more selfish, shoot more if it`s going to benefit the team.”
That kind of selfishness sounds downright respectable.
