Just because the St. Louis Blues improved themselves this week with the acquisition of goalie Ryan Miller and gritty forward Steve Ott, don’t expect the Blackhawks to worry about making a counter move of their own as the trade deadline nears.
“I think the Blues have been a great team all year, even if you go back to last year, they’re a tough opponent,” Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said. “But I think you can’t be reactionary that way. Those guys haven’t even played a game yet in St. Louis.
"We’re trying not to be a reactionary team because I think we have to do what we do well and focus on our own preparation. You’re certainly aware of what other teams do, and you have to be respectful and prepared when you play those teams.
“But I don’t think it makes sense to just do something because another team made a move — like if they hadn’t made a move, it wouldn’t have changed our approach.”
I’ve had some teams call. I guess, traditionally we don’t get a lot of inbound calls because they know we’re not looking to trade players away. If anything, in the past, you’d sort of have to call the teams that have players or are struggling. Since we’re not looking to add players, I haven’t had to make a lot of calls inquiring on players’ availability.
“I know there is talk out there; I’m just not that focused on it because I’m really confident in our group here.
Kane impresses Bylsma:
From afar, Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma always knew that Patrick Kane had some killer skills, but after spending time with him in Sochi, Bylsma’s respect for No. 88 only deepened.
“I’ve learned quite a bit about his competitiveness,” Bylsma said. “You kind of see the smile, and it’s certainly a ton of skill how he plays the game with, but I was impressed by it and learned just the competitiveness that he has and brings to the game.”
And then add in Kane’s mad skills and ...
”He’s a ‘head-shaker,” Bylsma said. “Some of the stuff that he does, bringing the puck up on the power play and distributing the puck. I had seen it, I had watched it, but he’s just got some nasty skill at the puck.
“I call it a head-shaker because he pulls up and puts a pass on someone’s tape, and you have three or four guys on the bench just shaking their head at how good he is with that puck.”
Toews 1, Crosby 0:
In the first regular season meeting between Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews, the winner was Tazer, hands down.
Not only was Toews’ 20th goal of the season in the second period the eventual game-winner, but he also scored the final goal of the game and assisted on Patrick Sharp’s first period goal.
Crosby not only was kept off the scoresheet but finished with a -2 rating.
Tip-ins:
Marian Hossa suffered an upper body injury in the first period and did not return to the game. ... With his second-period goal, Kris Versteeg accomplished the rare Wrigley-Soldier Field double. As a rookie, Versteeg scored the first goal in the Winter Classic on the North Side.
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