Why is Cam Barker Still A Chicago Blackhawk?

As I watched the Chicago Blackhawks fall to the Colorado Avalanche I noticed that former first round pick Cameron "Cam" Barker was not in the lineup. After I noticed this I went to the Chicago Blackhawks website to see if he had been injured or sent down but I couldn't find a thing.

It seemed as though Cam was just a healthy scratch from the 'Hawks lineup in Colorado and after further investigation this has been a reoccurring instance, he has not been in the 'Hawks lineup since the Winter Classic and has only played twice in the last seven games.

After seeing this statistic it made me think, why is Cam Barker still on the NHL roster and not with the Rockford Ice Hogs? He carries a $2.442 cap hit and is just sitting on the bench, it makes no sense to me.

Barker hasn't played too poorly this season recording 17 points in 26 games, but has a plus-minus rating of -4 which is the tied for the lowest on the team, along with Brent Sopel. If Quenneville does not want to play Barker then why is he a Blackhawk, he should be an Ice Hog so he can actually get some playing time.

If Barker were to be sent back to the AHL, the 'Hawks cap problem would disappear and would be able to possibly trade for a second line center, which they do actually need. With Barker in the AHL the 'Hawks would have $3.758 Million in cap room, enough to find a good solution for the second line center situation, Jeff Haplern? Antoine Vermette?

I'm going to try and not side track to much from the issue at hand but I believe the second line center situation needs to be addressed. Whether Dale Tallon trades for a second line center or the situation is addressed in house (Petri Kontiola?) because Patrick Sharp is not a center, plain and simple.

Now that I have got that out back to the issue at hand, Cam Barker. I believe something needs to be done with him either play him or send him down. I think Cam is going to be a good player for the 'Hawks, but if he is not going to be used then get his cap hit off the books.

In my opinion, it makes no sense for Barker to be with the Chicago Blackhawks if he is not going to play most nights, especially with his high price tag and the current cap situation. But hey, I guess that's why Dale Tallon is the GM and Joel Quenneville is the coach...not me.

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