CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell said he's motivated to prove he can still be an effective player after he cleared waivers on Saturday.
The Blackhawks placed Bickell on waivers Friday and no team claimed him by 11 a.m. CST Saturday. The Blackhawks also attempted to trade Bickell, who has a $4 million cap hit, throughout the offseason, according to a source.
"It was a little bit of a shock, but again, we always talk about those business calls," the 29-year-old Bickell said after participating in the Blackhawks' morning skate at the United Center on Saturday. "There's always two sides of it. Guys move and players stay. To be put on [waivers] and clear, it's kind of deflating, but I get some spark here and say I'm still here and looking forward to play tonight and prove myself. ... I want to be a Blackhawk forever and [it's a] second opportunity."
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Bickell will play in the Blackhawks' final preseason game Saturday. The Blackhawks can reassign Bickell to the AHL without having to put him through waivers again if he plays fewer than 10 games or before 30 days pass. Bickell isn't expected to be reassigned to the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, according to a source.
The Blackhawks rewarded Bickell with a four-year, $16 million contract after he excelled in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs with nine goals and 17 points. He has often failed to meet that performance level since receiving the contract. He has been made a healthy scratch at times over the past two seasons and had zero goals and five points during the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup run last season. He has two more years remaining on his contract.
Bickell said the Blackhawks didn't give him an explanation for why he was placed on waivers. Quenneville said he will talk with Bickell on Monday about his role on the team going forward.
"Organizationally, we know Bicks can bring a lot to or team," Quenneville said. "We'll talk to him individually, like we will all the players on Monday, about roles and job descriptions. We think he can be a factor and we need him to be, so that's where it's at."