Frantisek Kucera is one of three defensemen from Czechoslovakia attempting to win jobs with the Blackhawks. Kucera knows one rap against him is that he doesn`t play physically, so he is making a special effort this preseason to give his opponent a noticeable shove or two.
That was apparent again Monday night against Detroit. Kucera made it apparent to General Manager Mike Keenan and other management personnel watching here he is ready to get tough.
The other bad habit coach Darryl Sutter said Kucera must overcome is his tendency to start slowly. It sometimes takes him a period or more to get into the game and start holding his own physically.
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– Detroit may add some native talent to its roster. Dallas Drake is competing to earn the fourth-line job after graduating from Northern Michigan. Coach Bryan Murray likens Drake`s abilities to former Red Wing Adam Oates. Drake showed a resemblance Monday when he scored against goalie Ed Belfour in the second period to drive the Detroit lead to 5-1.
The Wings have to decide what to do with either Jimmy Carson or Slava Kozlov to make room for Drake. Kozlov is likely to be on the third line as center, provided he doesn`t play wing. Carson is definitely not a fourth-line kind of guy, so, for the umpteenth time in his career, there are rumors Carson must be traded. That would pave the way for Drake to be added to the Wings.
– Rob Brown is expected to return to practice in a little more than a week after spraining his left knee in Sunday`s 4-4 tie with Minnesota. Sutter already knows the winger had passed an important test.
”He`s well-liked by the other players,” he said. ”This is such a close-knit group that that`s important.”
Now, Brown has to pass the second test, especially after his short layoff. ”He has to work,” Sutter said. ”That comes from watching other guys. Bryan Marchment is still learning how to work from watching Keith Brown. Some guys just know how to do things right.”
He named Belfour, Brent Sutter, Steve Smith, Dirk Graham and Jeremy Roenick as some Hawks who excel in work ethic.