Kane at center? We’ll see, ‘Q’ says

As if the Blackhawks’ depth chart at center wasn’t already jumbled, now apparently you can add Patrick Kane to the mix.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said after Sunday’s 4-3 shootout loss at Detroit that Kane would get a look at center in the remaining preseason games.

Kane has been almost exclusively a right wing since breaking into the NHL and becoming a star. He got a brief look at center in his rookie year when Denis Savard was the coach and last season was tried at left wing with little success.

“He’s been playing center throughout scrimmages and practices so we’ll see,” Quenneville told reporters.

While there’s little doubt Kane could handle the offensive side of it at center, it’s his defensive game that hasn’t always been consistent.

“Defensively he’s gotten better as he’s grown,” Quenneville said. “It’s something we’re going to at least take a look at.”

Right now only Jonathan Toews and Dave Bolland are sure things at center. Quenneville might settle on Jamal Mayers as his fourth-line center considering how unimpressive rookie Marcus Kruger has been.

Michael Frolik and Ben Smith can also play center, if needed.

Patrick Sharp remains the logical choice as No. 2 center when he gets healthy.

Brandon Pirri is another center of interest, and he certainly got himself noticed on Sunday with 2 goals and an assist and the Hawks’ only goal in the shootout.

But Pirri, a second-round pick in 2009 who had 12 goals and 43 points in 70 games at Rockford last season, is likely headed to the AHL again for more seasoning.

Kruger might be joining Pirri at Rockford. He failed to impress again Sunday and after the game Quenneville said Kruger’s play in camp has been “just OK.”

Winger Jimmy Hayes also had a nice game Sunday with a goal and an assist as did goaltender Alexander Salak despite the loss.

Salak, who played the entire game, made 30 saves through regulation but didn’t get a lot of defensive help on the goals he allowed to three of the best offensive players in the NHL in Valtteri Filppula, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom.

Filppula and Lidstrom scored on power plays.

Salak was beaten twice in the shootout by nifty moves from veterans Todd Bertuzzi and Zetterberg.

It likely was Salak’s last preseason appearance in the battle with Ray Emery to be the backup goalie.

With only three exhibition games remaining, Corey Crawford will play all the way Wednesday against Detroit and likely next Sunday at Washington while Emery gets a full game Friday against Pittsburgh.

Another round of cuts are to come on Monday and could include Brandon Saad going back to juniors. Saad wasn’t as noticeable in Sunday’s loss.