Scott Powers, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Barker hopes to make Chicago home again

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The history between defenseman Cam Barker and the Chicago Blackhawks enabled both sides to feel comfortable to reunite again for training camp.

Barker, a first-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2004, was searching for another NHL opportunity after playing last season overseas, and attempting to do so with the Blackhawks made sense for him because of his familiarity with the organization. For the Blackhawks, they’re always looking for more defenseman depth, and they have an idea of what Barker is capable of when on his game.

Barker may not ultimately find a place in the Blackhawks’ organization, but he and the Blackhawks will be satisfied they took a look at each other.

“I think we’ve talked traditionally that you can never have too many defensemen,” Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said. “I think Cam played his best hockey with Chicago, and he’s trying to get his career back going. I know he’s trained really hard over the summer. He just wants a chance to see where he’s at. You know we want to try to keep our numbers relatively small, so we didn’t have a lot of invites. But I think it made sense in that perspective to have a look at him to see if he’s a player who would figure into a depth role or not.”

Barker played 200 games with the Blackhawks over five seasons and was traded to the Minnesota Wild for Kim Johnsson and Nick Leddy in February of 2010. Barker and Leddy have been on the same training camp team and played together at times during scrimmages on Friday and Saturday.

Barker’s career went off track after leaving the Blackhawks. He played in just 94 NHL games over the next three seasons. He last appeared in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2012-13 season. He spent last season playing in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Barker, 28, still believes he can play in the NHL, and the Blackhawks provided him a chance to join their training camp on a free-agent tryout. Barker described it as a weird feeling to be back with the Blackhawks, but it was where he wanted to be.

“I had a couple of my best seasons with the Hawks,” Barker said on Saturday. “I struggled after that. I had some injuries. Obviously wished things went different, but I’m back now and worked extremely hard to get back. I feel good about where I’m at now in my game. I’m just looking to the future.

“I wanted to come back. I worked extremely hard this summer. Could have went back [to the KHL] in early July, but my heart was here, my mind was here. I know I can still play. This is where I want to be. I figured I’d give it my best shot and here I am.”

Barker caught everyone’s attention Saturday when he leveled Teuvo Teravainen, the Blackhawks' 2012 first-round pick, with a massive hit and sent Teravainen crashing to the ice. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville wasn’t sure what Barker’s fate would be after camp, but Barker’s hit was noticed.

“Well, we’ll have to see,” Quenneville said of Barker. “You got some history on the player. You bring that into consideration. And then the audition however long it is, you see how he’s progressed or how bad he wants the job or the opportunity. You balance that out. I like the fact how he stepped up and had a real big hit today. Every day you’re looking to see signs that show that all costs he wants to get back here.”

Barker understood that.

“Hopefully, I’m here to carve [a role] out,” Barker said. “I got to show what I got, work hard every day and just do my best.”

^ Back to Top ^