Bickell Sick of Being Healthy Scratch

[IceHogsFan]

ROCKFORD — Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes are playing so well for the Chicago Blackhawks that it’s affecting another former Rockford IceHog.



Forward Bryan Bickell, who played three seasons with Rockford, has been a healthy scratch the past three games for Chicago.



“Yeah, I didn’t expect that from those two guys,” Bickell said of their Chicago contributions while he was at the BMO Harris Bank Center for Sunday’s Blackhawks Day. “I saw them in training camp and didn’t know much about them.

“They’re up to play here because of the injuries we have now, and they’ve been huge. They’re a big part of why we’ve been winning lately.”



Shaw has five goals in 10 games and Hayes four goals in 12 appearances in their first NHL experiences.

Despite their strong play, Bickell doesn’t need to sweat a return to Rockford any time so says former IceHogs coach and current Chicago assistant Mike Haviland.



“Bicks has been great,” said Haviland, who joined Bickell and defenseman Nick Leddy in a return visit. “Right now he’s going through a little rough patch. I think you go through that in your career.



“He has to get back to simplifying his game and using his body, his 6-foot-4 frame, and taking it to the net and be a power forward. I think he’s gotten away from that a little bit.



“Sitting out is not a bad thing to do. I think they’re going to see a different Bryan when he gets back in. He’s handled it very well, and it’s not an easy thing to do.”



Bickell, only 25, has 26 goals and 26 assists in 141 games as a Blackhawk. He has four goals and five assists in 40 games this season. He totaled 41 goals and 43 assists in 180 games with Rockford from 2007-10.

Bickell plans to follow Haviland’s suggestions.



“I’ve got to get back in the lineup and show the coaches what I can do,” he said. “From last year to this year has been different for me. We’re winning, and that’s the most important part.



“If it takes me out of the lineup, it’s unfortunate. But you know what ­— if I get back in the lineup, I need to show I can stay there and that I want to be there.”



http://www.rrstar.com/sports/x1251830832/Blackhawks-Bickell-sick-of-being-healthy-scratch

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I'm sick of watching him play the way he does.

 

[CLWolf81]

“Bicks has been great,” said Haviland, who joined Bickell and defenseman Nick Leddy in a return visit. “Right now he’s going through a little rough patch. I think you go through that in your career.

A little one? Try the whole season, Havi. I know you gotta stick up for your guys, but still....



I hope Bickell's as good as gone, especially if he's going to whine about Shaw and Hayes taking his spot.... Jealous much?

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Bickell has all the physical tools to be a top 6 forward on this team. Hell, he played well with Kane in Toews during our SC year. But, its between the ears where he needs to work on. He's lazy and half assing it out on the ice.



I'd like to see him break out of this slump as I think he has the potential to be a good power forward. But he has to work and make the most out of his opportunities or he will be eatting popcorn in the press box more often then not.

 

[LordKOTL]

Lack of hunger--pure and simple. If Bickell was hungry he would be out there beating Shaw and Hayes at their own games. Instead, Shaw and Hayes smell blood and are plauing like they intoend to take Bickell's slot--like they should.



Bickell--you have 2 choices: Start leaving it all out on the ice, drive to the next, hit and be hit, and be a one-man wrecking crew on the ice (along woith using that wrister), or fall into oblivion when the youth does it instead.

 

[the canadian dream]

Bickell has all the physical tools to be a top 6 forward on this team. Hell, he played well with Kane in Toews during our SC year. But, its between the ears where he needs to work on. He's lazy and half assing it out on the ice.



I'd like to see him break out of this slump as I think he has the potential to be a good power forward. But he has to work and make the most out of his opportunities or he will be eatting popcorn in the press box more often then not.

This is how I always felt about Bickell. It's also painfull because he plays LW which the Hawks lack. So there has been a huge opportunity for him to play hard as hell and win a LW spot on this team. I just don't think he knows how to play the big man roll. I don't think it's really lack of effort and more so simply a lack of being able to play the roll we all want him too. As long as Shaw is capable of doing so there simply is no room for Bickell. We don't need another goal scoring top 6 forward. We need a grit hard nosed drive to the net mucky goal scorer..which Shaw has given the Hawks.



But that's Bickell. This should be his last shot when he gets his next chance. If he can't fix his game to fit what the Hawks need then alternatives need to be found for him. It's only fair that the hawks at least try to search a deal out which will allow him to play elsewhere. It would be the right thing to do for both sides and a classy move by the Hawks.



Then we can also move on and talk about what the team should do with a guy like Frolik.

 

[PatrickShart]

Why do people assume it's 'laziness' if there isn't production?

 

[supraman]

Trade his useless ass. Sorry no love for bickell.

 

[Tater]

Why do people assume it's 'laziness' if there isn't production?

I don't think it's laziness due to lack of production, Frolik has been unproductive yet hustles every shift.

I can't see I see the same effort out of Bickell.

 

[howcho]

Agreed, You just don't see the hustle in Bick's game.



I would love if he could come back and play as we (and the coaches) feel he should. That guy has the hardest wrister I have seen in recent memory! Too bad it takes a while to wind up.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I think the title of the article misrepresents on how Bickell actually feels. Not once did I see a quote mentioning he's "sick" of it.

The headline writer needs to rethink their approach on titling this article.



My defense to my above statement is that the word "sick" used makes you read into it as if he has an attitude problem when it comes to being scratched.

 

[IceHogsFan]

I think the title of the article misrepresents on how Bickell actually feels. Not once did I see a quote mentioning he's "sick" of it.

The headline writer needs to rethink their approach on titling this article.



My defense to my above statement is that the word "sick" used makes you read into it as if he has an attitude problem when it comes to being scratched.

While I agree with the title comment it is what was in the article itself.

 

[Pez68]

Why do people assume it's 'laziness' if there isn't production?

Why do people assume that people assume it's laziness if there isn't production? Maybe people are assuming that he's lazy because of another reason. Like, oh, I don't know.... watching him play? Half-assing it, not hustling back into the play, and being a creampuff, maybe?

 

[MassHavoc]

I think the title of the article misrepresents on how Bickell actually feels. Not once did I see a quote mentioning he's "sick" of it.

The headline writer needs to rethink their approach on titling this article.



My defense to my above statement is that the word "sick" used makes you read into it as if he has an attitude problem when it comes to being scratched.

This too was the first thing I thought of but was too lazy to bring it up. I didn't like the representation of the title at all.

 

[jakobeast]

Check this out....if he played like Frolik does, he would have a few more goals. Fro is always seemingly skating his ass off, trying for a play. If Bicks did that, maybe took a lesson from Holmstrom, he would be a force. Bicks is a big, solid body, and even if he didn't bang others into the boards, him screening goalies, pounding away at the garbage, he would become invaluable. Granted, he has to be able to take some abuse, but I have faith he could.

 

[the canadian dream]

Check this out....if he played like Frolik does, he would have a few more goals. Fro is always seemingly skating his ass off, trying for a play. If Bicks did that, maybe took a lesson from Holmstrom, he would be a force. Bicks is a big, solid body, and even if he didn't bang others into the boards, him screening goalies, pounding away at the garbage, he would become invaluable. Granted, he has to be able to take some abuse, but I have faith he could.

What was his roll on the Hogs when he was putting up good numbers down there? Was he a crasher and a net presence? Asking because I have no idea what his game was like with the Hogs when he was starting to make a good name for himself. If he wasn't playing like that on the farm team then he won't play like this with the Hawks. If he did play like that with the hogs then it's very odd not seeing him do it with the Hawks...maybe he just really never was ready for the NHL? But then again he showed great flashes last season and even the few games he played the season before that. Those flashes just never amounted to anything more.

 

[Ton]

He never really put up "good numbers" at the AHL level either. I don't follow the Hogs as closely as the Hawks but he seemed inconsistent there too in terms of physical presence and effort every shift.

 

[the canadian dream]

He never really put up "good numbers" at the AHL level either. I don't follow the Hogs as closely as the Hawks but he seemed inconsistent there too in terms of physical presence and effort every shift.

then why was he ever brought up?



What did the hawks brass see? Its because he's cheap right?



I was under the impression he had a decent ahl stint.

 

[Maiden]

Trade his useless ass. Sorry no love for bickell.

Same stupid ass remark they use to make about Brouwer.

 

[supraman]

Same stupid ass remark they use to make about Brouwer.

Yeah and look he's NOT on the roster and we are in competition for 1st in the league, guess we really didn't need him