Oct. 24--One of the main elements big-ticket free-agent defenseman Brian Campbell brings to the Blackhawks is an explosive offensive side.
So far this season the other Hawks defensemen are following his lead and providing plenty of scoring from the back end.
"Brian jumping up in the play a lot sends a message," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "All our guys are capable of supporting the attack. We also encourage them getting involved in the cycle in the offensive zone. They have the green light when we have the puck."
The green light has helped light the lamp as defensemen have accounted for six of the Hawks' 20 goals in the opening seven games. Campbell and Brent Seabrook lead the way with two each. Duncan Keith and Aaron Johnson also have scored.
Defensemen have scored at least one goal in each of the last four games, during which the Hawks have accumulated seven of a possible eight points to turn around a 0-2-1 start.
"It's big for us to come in and help out," said Seabrook, who scored a short-handed goal Wednesday night to help lift the Hawks to a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. "It adds a different element to our team. Our forwards are so good at finding us [that] we just have to try and get open and get shots to the net."
In the fold: Quenneville reportedly signed a three-year contract Wednesday after being hired to replace Denis Savard on Oct. 16.
"The timing of coming to this situation is a great fit," Quenneville said Thursday. "I couldn't be happier with the way the Blackhawks organization has been to me since the outset. The part that probably has been the best is working around the guys and the quality of the individuals I get to work with."
Grabbing attention: The resurgence of the Hawks at the box office and around the league has caught the eye of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in town for Thursday's general managers meeting.
"I've never seen anything like this," Bettman said. "The season-ticket base has more than tripled in one year. That is absolutely exciting to see, and it's a credit to (Chairman) Rocky Wirtz and (President) John McDonough and everybody in the organization. And perhaps more than anything else it's a credit to the great fans here in Chicago."
No rules changes are expected to result from the meeting, which Bettman said was more for "housekeeping and reports."
Surprise strength: Johnson has been solid since being recalled from Rockford on Oct. 13 after an injury to Niklas Hjalmarsson. Johnson is averaging 16 minutes 54 seconds of ice time. In addition to his goal he has two assists and is a plus-3 in five games.
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