Patrick Sharp stayed on the ice long after his Blackhawks teammates had departed and was put through a thorough workout from the coaching and training staffs.
“They made me skate,” Sharp said with a grin.
The veteran forward wasn’t complaining after participating in the Hawks’ morning skate before Friday night’s 4-2 exhibition loss to the Penguins before a crowd of 20,114 at the United Center. It was the first time Sharp had gone through drills with the Hawks since undergoing an emergency appendectomy Sept. 12.
Sharp will continue to work through the completion of training camp and is eyeing a return to action for the Hawks’ season opener Oct. 7 against in Dallas.
“It’s really something that’s day-to-day,” Sharp said. “I’ve felt better every 24 hours since the surgery. … I don’t want to miss any games. I don’t want to say I’m ready to go next Friday and have something happen, but … every day it gets better.”
When he does make his season debut, it could be in a different spot. Coach Joel Quenneville has been searching for a way to move Sharp from center, where he has done yeoman’s duty to fill bolster a thin spot in the roster the last two seasons, to his natural position of left wing. To that end, Quenneville has shifted Patrick Kane to the middle, an experiment that continued against the Penguins.
When asked where Sharp would start the season if the planets align correctly, Quenneville said, “Right now, we’d probably say on the wing if things continue on with Kane in that direction. It’s a likelihood (Sharp) could be playing with Jonathan (Toews). That could give us some predictability in our lines going into … the season.”
That would be just fine to Sharp, who had 34 goals and 37 assists in 74 games last season.
“Who in the league wouldn’t want to play on the wing with Johnny?” Sharp said. “If I have to play center I’m fine with that as well. I’m prepared for anything.”
What kind of damage could Sharp do if he played an entire season on the left side?
“I’d like to think I could pass 36 goals,” Sharp said of his career high set in 2007-08. “Just because you’re on the wing doesn’t give you a green light to do whatever you want — everyone has responsibilities out there — but I feel I can create more. I can shoot the puck a little bit more and use my speed to get scoring chances.”
One-timers:
The Hawks will decide after Sunday’s final exhibition against the Capitals whether to sign goaltender
Ray Emery,
in camp on a tryout, to a contract or let the veteran go as a free agent. Emery made 15 saves against the Penguins, but yielded goals to
Steve Sullivan, Matt Cooke
and
Joe Vitale.
“In exhibitions you’re always trying to improve and personally I feel like I’m getting there but not as quickly as I’d like to,” Emery said. “(But) I feel solid on the ice … (and) I’d really like an opportunity to play here.” …
Evgeni Malkin
added an empty-net score for Pittsburgh. … Rookie center
Brandon Pirri
had both Hawks goals.
Twitter @ChrisKuc
