Could Dustin Byfuglien Be Headed Back to the Blackhawks' Blue Line?

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Lost amidst the fantastic excitement surrounding the acquisition of Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky, and John Madden, and the investigation surrounding the Blackhawks' submission of qualifying offers to restricted free agents, has been a depth chart that looks a little out of order.

Assuming the Blackhawks assurances are true that the key restricted free agents will be back in Chicago, the Hawks' roster is loaded with forwards and lacks depth, again, on defense.

The additions of Hossa, Kopecky, and Madden give Chicago a loaded group of talented snipers from which offense shouldn't be hard to create. But are the Blackhawks setting themselves up for a season full of old school, high scoring affairs?

Right now, there are only three veterans listed on defense for the Blackhawks: Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook. Next to them you have some youngsters who are still gathering experience, like Cam Barker, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jordan Hendry.

The problem with this group of names is that, with the exception of the Keith/Seabrook pairing, there isn't a duo that could be put together that makes a whole lot of sense or makes an educated fan feel very good for last year's disappointing free agent addition, now-full time goaltender Cristobal Huet.

So the question now comes to the forefront: Do the Blackhawks move Dustin Byfuglien back to defense?

Byfuglien has been bounced back and forth between forward and defense over the past couple seasons, and finally saw the talent that led General Manager Dale Tallon to give him a three-year contract display itself in the playoffs.

He established himself against the veteran Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks as an intimidating, physical force in front of the net that became a weapon as the Hawks made their run to the Western Conference Finals.

But with the added depth at wing and center, there might not be room for Byfuglien's slower skates with any of the first three lines. However, back in defense he might be able to see ice time with the second or third group.

He doesn't seem to be an appropriate partner for Campbell, who's offensive mindset exposes too many odd-man breaks for which Byfuglien's slower skates couldn't compensate. After a strong end of the season, it's likely that Hjalmarsson will see more time with Campbell in 2009-10.

It's also likely that, because he leaves his posterior so wide open, that Madden was brought in to specifically babysit Campbell's tail. Madden has long been considered one of the top defensive centers in the game, and is a wonderful fit in a group with Campbell.

But there's a chance that an aggressive third defensive grouping of Barker and Byfuglien could be a physical difference maker for the Hawks.

Depending on how the Hawks play their lines with the forwards, there's a real chance that a more defensive-minded trio of Dave Bolland, Andrew Ladd, and Kopecky could do a nice job of flowing with the more offensive pair of Barker and Byfuglien to create a unique dynamic on the ice.

While moving Byfuglien back and forth will certainly not help him project to his ultimate potential, the depth chart might force coach Joel Quenneville to evaluate internal options for depth on the blue line. With his physical style of play and hard shot, Byfuglien might find himself back on defense more often this year.

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