April 07--In taking a look at teammate Bryan Bickell for the first time in a while, defenseman Duncan Keith noticed something different.
"He's got a full head of hair now," Keith said. "He's a new man."
The Hawks are hoping that somehow Bickell is a new man on the ice, or rather, the old one they have seen in past postseasons.
If he tried, Bickell could not contain the excitement and relief he was feeling to be back with the Hawks for a third time this season. After spending nearly the last four months with Rockford, Bickell was all smiles as he talked about how good it felt to be back in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blues.
"Being positive is the biggest thing. I think going down there, I didn't want to be a sore thumb," he said. "Just have a positive attitude and work hard and I'm happy to be back up here for a couple games going into one of the times I like the most, the playoffs."
You might be happy too if you didn't have to ride on buses to AHL games at 30 years old and got to experience Chicago cuisine again.
"I remember those old days, seven-hour trips on a bus," Bickell said. "Maybe when I was 21 it was easier on the body, but just turned 30, so it was tough. It's nice to get back and hopefully I won't have to do that again."
To recap, Bickell started the season on waivers, and the Hawks tried all they could to rid themselves of Bickell's four-year, $16 million contract that expires after next season.
But they could find no suitable deals in trade talks. After clearing waivers, Bickell started the season with the Hawks, but was sent to Rockford on Nov. 2. He came back up to the Hawks on Dec. 6 but was reassigned Jan. 17 until Wednesday, when the Hawks brought him back up.
Bickell is here in part because the Hawks have a glut of forwards who are injured and out for Thursday's game -- Marian Hossa, Andrew Shaw and Artem Anisimov -- and Bickell knows his window to impress coach Joel Quenneville to earn playing time in the playoffs is a small one.
"Every game has got to be real good from the situation I was in this year," Bickell said. "It was tough. But to see these guys again and to be back up here, it's lifting. Every game I've got to play like it's my last, and do what I need to do."
Bickell said he was still dealing with the effects of an ocular issue that began in last season's playoffs at the beginning of the season, but that cleared up around the time he went to Rockford. Since then, the only issue affecting his play has been himself.
"It's fine," Bickell said. "If it comes back, I know how to adjust and fix it."
Bickell is hoping he can now make the necessary fixes to his game.
"Just being a force, being physical. Keep my feet moving and going to the net. I think you put those things together, I think I'm going to find my game," Bickell said. "I believe I have it, I know they believe it, and that's why they brought me back here."
As for the other Hawks injuries, Hossa, Shaw, Anisimov and goaltender Corey Crawford are all out for the Hawks tonight. Shaw and Anisimov are likely out Saturday against the Blue Jackets while Hossa could play. Crawford is in line to start Saturday.
