Just when it appeared the injury tide had turned for Kris Versteeg, the Blackhawks forward limped off the ice Tuesday and is sidelined once again.
Coach Joel Quenneville said Wednesday that Versteeg would miss about three weeks with a lower-body injury that occurred during practice. It is a difficult setback for the Hawks’ lineup and for Versteeg himself after the veteran appeared fully recovered from major knee surgery in 2013 and was displaying the kind of speed he possessed earlier in his career.
“It’s kind of frustrating and disappointing for him,” Quenneville said Wednesday after practice at Johnny’s IceHouse West. “He was very upset with what happened. We’re disappointed, too, because we felt he gives us a lot of versatility and options in our game. (With) penalty killing he gets more ice time and it looked like he had found that stride he was looking for. We want to get him back to that pace when he gets back.”
Quenneville said Ben Smith would absorb most of Versteeg’s ice time, beginning with the regular-season opener against the Stars in Dallas on Thursday night. He didn’t know if Versteeg would go on the injured list.
Meanwhile, veteran defenseman Michal Rozsival (upper body) skated before practice and the team will see where he stands Friday before deciding if he will play against the Sabres in the home opener Saturday night.
Shooting star: Hawks management and teammates have taken notice of the plethora of commercials in which winger Patrick Kane has been appearing.
“He’s going to be like Shaquille O’Neal if he keeps that up,” captain Jonathan Toews said with a grin. “(Kane) has always had a knack for being front and center, that’s just who he is. It’s good to see him get that notoriety off the ice — he’s the type of guy who enjoys it and does really well with it. It’s good for our team and our sport as well.”
Kane’s most memorable shoot this summer was a three-hour stint in Cleveland with NBA star LeBron James.
“When we were on set together we talked a lot,” Kane said. “I was surprised that he knew as much as he did about the Blackhawks and myself and hockey in general. He’s a really nice guy.”
Kane said he gets a big kick from the TV time.
“I probably have to thank Johnny Toews for turning a few of them down and I get to do them,” Kane said. “It’s cool when you’re tuning into ESPN or something and you see it on TV. When you’re growing up, you think none of that stuff will ever happen to you but, to be honest, in the back of your mind you’re kind of hoping it does.”
Said President John McDonough of Kane’s exposure: “It’s fun to see this evolution of this young man become a star and be comfortable with all that and handle it so well. In my career, it’s one of most rewarding things I’ve seen.”
Game on: After three weeks of training camp and six exhibition games, the Hawks are eager to play in a meaningful contest.
“The boys are ready and it’s time to get at it,” Toews said. “There’s that feeling of … anxiousness that every guy wants to play well and start off on the right foot.”
