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JB* · 11-30-2005, 10:29 AM

From the Tribune's Bob Foltman... just thot I would share

Quote:

Aucoin falling short of goals
Hawks defenseman eager to hit stride, pick up power play

November 29, 2005, 8:57 PM CST

Nearly one-third of the Blackhawks' payroll this season is allocated to two players: goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin at $6.75 million and defenseman Adrian Aucoin at $4 million.

Khabibulin is expected to give the Hawks a chance to win every night and, after a slow start, has delivered.

Aucoin is expected to improve a dismal power play and provide offense from the blue line. So far, that hasn't been the case.

With only one goal and five points in 17 games, Aucoin is on pace for his lowest offensive output since he played 54 games in Vancouver in 1999-2000 and ended with 10 goals and 14 assists.

Aucoin missed six games earlier in the season with a groin strain and said he's finally back to skating normally.

"It's an ongoing thing," he said. "The first games I played [after], I wasn't skating like I can. The last few I have been skating better, which is nice."

Of Aucoin's 84 career goals, 45 have come on the power play. With a Hawks power play languishing at 13.4 percent—fourth worst in the league—Aucoin takes it personally.

"I'm a shooter, not a playmaker," Aucoin said. "We've been trying a lot of different things. I prefer we just get it to the top and shoot it. That creates a lot of havoc down low."

Aucoin said one problem with the Hawks' power play is they have too many shooters and not enough passers.

Hawks coach Trent Yawney doesn't blame the poor production on Aucoin.

"Part of the power play is five guys working as one," Yawney said. "I don't think you can pin it on one guy. It comes down to us being a little hungrier recovering pucks."

In his three last seasons with the New York Islanders, Aucoin averaged 37.6 points per season with 44 in 2003-04. Next to Scott Niedermayer, Aucoin was the most coveted free-agent defenseman on the market.

With Eric Daze and Tuomo Ruutu out indefinitely, the Hawks have few pure offensive forwards. Barring a trade for another proven scorer, the offensive defensemen, such as Aucoin, Brent Seabrook and Jaroslav Spacek, have to step up.

"We need goals from the back end," Aucoin said. "Look at our successful games and [they are] when defensemen score goals."

Indeed, in the Hawks' nine victories this season, their defensemen have 10 goals. They have four goals from defensemen in their 14 losses.

"[Rushing defensemen] are so hard to defend," Aucoin said. "A late man coming up, there is nothing you can do about it."

Yawney said he's not concerned about Aucoin.

"[Aucoin] knows he can play better," Yawney said. "Right now it seems as though every time he tries to take an offensive chance, it ends up going the other way."

That was the case Sunday in Anaheim when Aucoin tried to pinch in late in the third period with the Hawks trailing 1-0. Pavel Vorobiev lost the puck on Aucoin's side and Anaheim had a two-on-one the other way with Joffrey Lupol scoring.

If there is a positive, it's that Aucoin felt good enough from the groin injury to jump into the play. With 59 games left, Aucoin hopes the best is yet to come.

"Now I'm starting to get my legs and skating," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be a lot better."

I'll say he's falling short, but man - at the same time, this team just is NOT playing well all in all. Very disappointing.