Another game and another line combination for Jonathan Toews.

Out of the All-Star break, coach Joel Quenneville had Toews paired with Nick Schmaltz and Marian Hossa, but headed into Thursday’s game against the Coyotes, Hossa is likely to drop down to the third line with Marcus Kruger and Dennis Rasmussen while Richard Panik will play on Toews’ right.

Before the break Ryan Hartman and Panik paired with Toews.
“We’re looking for balance,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’ve got more lines that are offensively and defensively responsible and consistent and that makes us a better team. That’s what we’re looking at.”

On Tuesday, general manager Stan Bowman referred to a potential trade for a top-line left winger as the “million-dollar question,” or, depending on the player’s salary, the multi-million dollar question.

But Bowman said he was confident that the Hawks already had the
player who could complement Toews the best on their roster.

Quenneville hasn’t shied away from giving his young players a chance to play with Toews. At various times this season, Toews has played with rookies Schmaltz, Vinnie Hinostroza, Harman and Tyler Motte, who is now in Rockford. Against the Sharks, Quenneville even had Toews playing with Artemi Panarin and Hossa. 

Toews played with several linemates last season but Quenneville admitted he has probably moved guys around with Toews “a little more this year.”

“We haven’t had the consistency of one line looking like it’ll be together,” Quenneville said. “Whether it’s production consistently being accomplished or defensively, there’s work to be done.”

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