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Brandon Saad News
Saad practicing on the Blackhawks fourth line on Wednesday.

Saad, who has just one goal in the first nine games of the season, played just 15:08 on Tuesday and is skating on Chicago's fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith this morning. It has been a rough start for the 22-year-old, who's value certainly takes a hit when he is not playing none of the Blackhawks premier players (Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa and Richards).

Brandon Saad
Saad will return to the Blackhawks lineup on Wednesday.

Saad served as a healthy scratch in Sunday's win over the Blues. Head coach Joel Quenneville called the scratch a "coach's decision". Saad has just one assist in his last nine games, so the Hawks were likely giving him the night off to recharge so he is ready to go come playoff time.

Brandon Saad
Saad will play against the Nashville Predators on Sunday after missing the last three games with an upper-body injury.

Saad hasn't played since suffering an upper-body injury against the Detroit Red Wings on March 16. He is tied for second on the Blackhawks with a plus-29 rating and is sixth on the team with 44 points. He has 19 goals and 25 assists in 68 games this season.

Brandon Saad
Saad did not travel with the team Monday for its game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.

Saad suffered an upper-body injury against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period on Sunday and missed the remainder of the game. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Sunday he did not believe Saad's injury was serious. Saad was expected to be re-evaluated on Monday. Saad has not missed a game this season. He is tied for first on the Blackhawks with a plus-29 rating and is sixth on the team with 44 points. He has 19 goals and 25 assists in 68 games this season.

Brandon Saad
Saad will play in Hossa's spot on the Blackhawks top-line.

With Hossa out 2-3 weeks, the Hawks will start by giving Saad the chance to play with Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews. Saad has 18 goals and 23 assists (41 points) and a plus-27 rating already, but a spot on the top-line could help inflate those numbers even further.

Brandon Saad
The Chicago Blackhawks have been experimenting with Brandon Saad at center but the experiment is over, for now.

“I’m a born winger,” Saad said. He struggled in the faceoff circle going 9 for 38 in his two games at center, so he was back on the wing on Sunday. Saad likely will play on the third line, where he spent most of the playoffs. “He’s playing on your top two [lines], then all of a sudden if he plays on your third line, that line is a very dangerous line offensively,” Quenneville said.

Brandon Saad
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms on a three-year contract with second-round pick Brandon Saad.

Saad figures to start the season on the top line and could very well stay there if he produces. Once projected to go in the top 10, the 43rd overall pick of this year's draft is one of the biggest surprises of the preseason. Last season, the 18-year-old scored 27 goals and 55 points in 59 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL.

Brandon Saad
Brandon Saad is getting the day off for #Blackhawks. Appears rookie will start season with team.

As noted yesterday, Saad earned a spot on the NHL roster. Last season, the 18-year-old scored 27 goals and 55 points in 59 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. He could be a high-end sleeper.

Brandon Saad
Joel Quenneville had as much praise for Brandon Saad as he did for Pirri who scored twice. “Saad does a lot of good things, he’s played a lot of games here, I still think he does a lot of good things, good patience, good recognition, we’ve been pleased with him,” Quenneville said. Expect Saad to be signed to an entry level contract and break camp with the Hawks.

Saad is certainly impressing his organization with some strong preseason play. Last season, the 18-year-old scored 27 goals and 55 points in 59 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. If he makes the team, he could be a high-end sleeper.

Brandon Saad
Saad is still a long shot to make the team, but Joel Quenneville intimated he’ll play in his team-high fifth preseason game Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks are looking long and hard at Saad and there is always a chance the Hawks may keep him for a short period of time after the regular season begins. He can play up to nine games without starting the clock on his pro career and still be sent back to juniors.

Saad is certainly impressing his organization with some strong preseason play. Last season, the 18-year-old scored 27 goals and 55 points in 59 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. If he makes the team, he could be a high-end sleeper.

Brandon Saad
If a star can be born in the preseason, then Chicago Blackhawks nation is witnessing the event. Brandon Saad could just be the real deal.

Saad is certainly impressing his organization with some strong preseason play. Last season, the 18-year-old scored 27 goals and 55 points in 59 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. If he makes the team, he could be a high-end sleeper.

Brandon Saad