Good, bad news for Hawks: Aucoin returns, Ruutu out
By Tim Sassone
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2005
VANCOUVER, British Columbia ? There was good news and bad news for the Blackhawks on Monday.
The hope now is for the bad news not to get any worse
Defenseman Adrian Aucoin returns to the lineup tonight against the Canucks at General Motors Place after missing four games with a groin strain.
That was the good news.
The bad news is winger Tuomo Ruutu won?t play because of his sore back.
Ruutu didn?t practice either Sunday or Monday, and with the Hawks off after today until Sunday when Minnesota visits the United Center, coach Trent Yawney is thinking the extended rest will allow Ruutu?s back to become stronger.
The Hawks are claiming ? at least publicly ? that Ruutu?s back problem is not a concern at this point.
?I?ve been told that it?s not serious, so I?m not worrying about it until I?m told that it?s a serious issue,? Yawney said. ?At the same time, he hasn?t played to the level that he needs to play at for our team to be successful, other than maybe the game at Colorado.?
Ruutu has played in each of the Hawks? first six games and has 1 goal and 1 assist. He clearly hasn?t been the kind of impact player the Hawks need him to be, physically or in the scoring areas.
?He?s a proud kid and he?s going to go out and play, but he?ll tell you himself he?s not playing at (a high) level,? Yawney said. ?I know from watching the (2004) World Cup and the end of the previous year that he?s nowhere near where he needs to be. It?s a frustrating thing from his standpoint and at the same time if he?s not healthy, let?s get him healthy.?
Ruutu saw a back specialist two weeks ago but there was no structural damage found. The Hawks basically are calling the injury a sore back.
?He?s saying that it?s sore, and it?s his back,? Yawney said. ?I?m not a doctor so I?m not sure exactly. It?s something that can be treated with rest and that?s why every time he gets some time off he feels much better.
?My feeling is let?s nip this thing as much as we can early here and try to get him 100 percent. Let?s not keep him wavering at 80. Let?s give him some time here to get to 100 percent.?
Rookie winger Rene Bourque, who was a scratch at San Jose on Saturday, will take Ruutu?s spot in the lineup against the Canucks.
The Hawks expect Aucoin?s return to be a boost to the power play that has gone 1-for-20 on the road trip.
Aucoin made it through a tough practice on Sunday and again on Monday.
?Having made it through (Sunday?s) practice, I think he?s ready,? said Yawney, who skated the team hard after feeling many of them didn?t come to play in the 4-3 loss to the Sharks.
By Tim Sassone
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2005
VANCOUVER, British Columbia ? There was good news and bad news for the Blackhawks on Monday.
The hope now is for the bad news not to get any worse
Defenseman Adrian Aucoin returns to the lineup tonight against the Canucks at General Motors Place after missing four games with a groin strain.
That was the good news.
The bad news is winger Tuomo Ruutu won?t play because of his sore back.
Ruutu didn?t practice either Sunday or Monday, and with the Hawks off after today until Sunday when Minnesota visits the United Center, coach Trent Yawney is thinking the extended rest will allow Ruutu?s back to become stronger.
The Hawks are claiming ? at least publicly ? that Ruutu?s back problem is not a concern at this point.
?I?ve been told that it?s not serious, so I?m not worrying about it until I?m told that it?s a serious issue,? Yawney said. ?At the same time, he hasn?t played to the level that he needs to play at for our team to be successful, other than maybe the game at Colorado.?
Ruutu has played in each of the Hawks? first six games and has 1 goal and 1 assist. He clearly hasn?t been the kind of impact player the Hawks need him to be, physically or in the scoring areas.
?He?s a proud kid and he?s going to go out and play, but he?ll tell you himself he?s not playing at (a high) level,? Yawney said. ?I know from watching the (2004) World Cup and the end of the previous year that he?s nowhere near where he needs to be. It?s a frustrating thing from his standpoint and at the same time if he?s not healthy, let?s get him healthy.?
Ruutu saw a back specialist two weeks ago but there was no structural damage found. The Hawks basically are calling the injury a sore back.
?He?s saying that it?s sore, and it?s his back,? Yawney said. ?I?m not a doctor so I?m not sure exactly. It?s something that can be treated with rest and that?s why every time he gets some time off he feels much better.
?My feeling is let?s nip this thing as much as we can early here and try to get him 100 percent. Let?s not keep him wavering at 80. Let?s give him some time here to get to 100 percent.?
Rookie winger Rene Bourque, who was a scratch at San Jose on Saturday, will take Ruutu?s spot in the lineup against the Canucks.
The Hawks expect Aucoin?s return to be a boost to the power play that has gone 1-for-20 on the road trip.
Aucoin made it through a tough practice on Sunday and again on Monday.
?Having made it through (Sunday?s) practice, I think he?s ready,? said Yawney, who skated the team hard after feeling many of them didn?t come to play in the 4-3 loss to the Sharks.
