Mike Keenan is back-the intense and driven Keenan who some players have not relished.
”I`ve been criticized in the past for not letting teams learn on their own,” he said in explaining he had given this year`s Blackhawks a longer leash and not interfered as much.
But now that St. Louis has shot past the Hawks to claim first in the Norris Division, knocking Chicago from a spot it had held since Nov. 14, Keenan isn`t going to take it quietly.
”I`m going to work and teach like hell,” he said. ”Practice doesn`t make perfect. Perfect practices make perfect.”
Keenan thinks the Hawks` recent slip is simply a matter of reduced work ethic. ”It`s human nature; even the best players get away from it,” he said. ”I expect the club is proud enough to respond to the challenge.”
Eddie, Eddie: Keenan feels one Hawk who hasn`t hit a ”significant” slump is goalie Ed Belfour, who will start his 18th straight game Thursday against Quebec.
”He`s carried a lot of the work load and it`s part of his personality and his character, which some other players have to learn to have,” Keenan said.
Naming names: Keenan doesn`t usually chide players by name, but he pointed out that one of the players he is prodding now to return to his former skill level is defenseman Chris Chelios.
”Chris hasn`t played that way recently,” Keenan said, alluding to his dominant performances of earlier this season. ”Everyone knows it. But it applies to Chris and everyone else. The work ethic has dropped and it`s time for us to get it back.”
A real plus: Steve Larmer and Jeremy Roenick, besides being the Hawks` two leading scorers, are the top two forwards in the National Hockey League in plus-minus. That is a credit to their defensive skills. Larmer leads all players with a plus-33 and Roenick is third with a plus-30.