The Blackhawks often talk of searching for a scoring winger, but the sometimes overlooked center position may be just as vulnerable.
After leading scorer Jeremy Roenick, the next center on the scoring depth chart is Brent Sutter in 10th, followed in 14th by Kevin Todd. The 32-year-old Sutter has 16 points but only four goals. Todd has five goals, 11 points in 27 games.
Compare that with other NHL teams, where frequently there are two centers among the top three or four scorers. To have two threatening lines, teams need two solid offensive centers.
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“As long as Christian Ruuttu can get back to where he was, we’ll be fine,” said coach Darryl Sutter of a center who has three goals, four points in 12 games since returning from a broken ankle. “He was good Tuesday (in the 5-2 loss to Buffalo).”
Scratch that itch: Winger Stephane Matteau wasn’t a lineup scratch against the Sabres due to injury, as he has been a lot of late. Both he and defenseman Neil Wilkinson sat because of Sutter’s unhappiness with recent performances.
“Matteau’s either hurt or he’s played lousy,” Sutter said. “He has done nothing in two weeks. Wilkinson’s like Steph. He’s not playing well enough. Only reason he was playing was because we only had six defensemen.”
Waiver pickup Greg Smyth was used to push Wilkinson to the sidelines.
On the horizon: Right wing Sergei Krivokrasov is playing again in the minors after being temporarily shelved by illness, but the 1992 first-round draft pick isn’t playing well enough yet to rate a promotion. “The people in our organization who watch him say he’s not ready yet,” said Sutter, who sounds as if he would call him up if he could.
As for rookie center Jeff Shantz, recently assigned to Indianapolis, Sutter said, “He’s been their best player, but he’s staying there at least through our All-Star break.”
That means Shantz’s next chance to be recalled won’t come before late January or February.