Blackhawks coach Brian Sutter speaks as glowingly about center Alex Zhamnov has he does about any player in the NHL.
So when Sutter compared Mikhail Yakubov to Zhamnov on Tuesday, it was clear that the 10th pick overall in the 2000 draft has raised some eyebrows early in training camp.
“In a lot of ways he’s a lot like Alex,” Sutter said. “[He’s] very strong on the puck, good on faceoffs, very conscientious defensively. And when he gets the puck on offense, he goes. You can’t teach a lot of the little things that he brings to the party.”
Yakubov said he has felt more comfortable each day of camp. Tuesday, he assisted on a Sergei Berezin goal, the only goal for the Red team in a 5-1 loss to the White. Tyler Arnason, who along with Berezin is having as good a camp as any of the forwards, scored a pair of goals. Igor Radulov also scored twice.
Sutter said there is a big jump in level of play between juniors and even the American Hockey League, let alone the NHL. Still, Yakubov possesses skills that go beyond experience.
“He has poise in traffic with the puck,” Sutter said. “You can’t teach that. He’s incredibly calm and he sees the ice.”
New faces, please
After five days of scrimmages against each other, the Hawks are ready to hit someone else.
“They need to play a game,” Sutter said. “They need to be challenged in a different way.”
The Hawks will play host to Nashville at the United Center in the first exhibition game of the season Thursday night. Dallas comes to town Saturday night.
“Everyone is working hard and playing hard,” winger Mark Bell said. “We’re pretty excited for Thursday.”
One-timers
Goaltender Michael Leighton practiced with the team for the first time Tuesday. He’s nursing a groin injury. … Eric Daze was kept off the ice for a third straight day to rest his back. Steve Thomas was also kept off the ice for a second straight day. … Travis Moen and Lyle Odelein had the second fight of camp during the scrimmage. … Owner and team President Bill Wirtz sat in the stands Monday and watched the scrimmage.
