The question still is when is the return of Cory Crawford behind the net for the Chicago Black Hawks. Crawford has been out for awhile now as the Hawks have been struggling without their starting goalie. Goal tending is not the biggest issue right now for the Hawks. The Hawks has been too cute on the power play. Results are not many goals. The dirty work in front of the net is not getting done. The lack of not getting the loose pucks around the net and then putting the biscuit in the basket has been a head scratcher. Where’s the beef? Your talented defense men Seabrook and Keith have not scored the usual tallies that we are used to seeing.

With this list of problems the Hawks have sometimes used a line up change to get the team back on track. This is where Scott Darling comes to mind. I know Anton Forsberg and Scott Darling both have similiar stat lines this season. You could even say Forsberg has been a tad better. He has a better save percentage at .911 compared to Darling’s at .895. Goal allowed average Forsberg is doing better with 2.92 compared to Darling’s 2.94. Both are three games under 500 as a starter. Darling has played more games this season. So why would Darling benefit the Hawks right here right now more than the guy they already have?

If Scott Darling was still with the Hawks he would obviously be the back up. Darling had that back up motivation as all back ups should have and want to be the starter. Sometimes this motivation can be far more successful than being the number one guy and holding that job because you always have tomorrow to improve or the next game. When you’re back up and you want to showcase your talent and you do not know when your next game will be, it can be mind boggling. Many back ups at times start off very slow. Darling is the type who can throw a quick shut out in relief of Crawford. In which a shut out can help get the whole team on track as they see a guy come off the bench and stymie a team is huge. Darling has done that in huge playoff games as well. I think Darling also played well because he was in his home town. He’s from Lemont, Illinois. This would give a guy extra motivation to do well in front of family and friends, night after night. The thing that Darling had that is missed, is his relationship with Cory Crawford. That was a tandem they could bounce off ideas with each other. Both of them were great friends and probably still are. They help each other get better every day.

Darling and other former Hawks that were unsung heroes to the team, are big reasons why the Hawks go through these long periods of struggle. Guys like Darling and others did all the little things that no one else liked to do. These jobs need to get done to win lots of hockey games. With the salary cap it is very hard to keep these guys you want on your team. Now you have to keep reworking the lines until someone steps up. Plus you have growing pains with young guys as well. Plus you have your older guys that lost a few of their steps. That’s why a Darling is missed because he came in and helped pick up the team. He would be able to erase some of the mistakes made by guys that lost a pep in their step or rookie mistakes. Oh Darling, do we miss you.