Blackhawks' Sharp practices on 3rd line ahead of return

After a sluggish start to the year the Chicago Blackhawks are rolling right now, so it makes sense that Joel Quenneville is reluctant to shake up his top-six forward group.

When a consistent 30-goal scorer returns from injury though, you might expect a team to find a spot for him on a potent scoring line. That's not the case in Chicago apparently, where Patrick Sharp is due to return from a leg injury.

At Blackhawks practice Monday, Sharp was on the third-line playing right-wing with Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell.

That Sharp is going to have to work his way back up Chicago's forward ranks is a testament to the level of success that Kris Versteeg has found alongside Brad Richards and Patrick Kane on the Blackhawks' second line of late. Since Sharp sustained his injury on Nov. 4, Versteeg has scored six goals and managed 19 points in 15 contests.

Sharp, 32, ranks 11th among regular NHL forwards in scoring rate over the past three seasons, with his even-strength goal scoring rate comparing favorably with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Marian Gaborik, Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares during that time frame.

Having the sort of quality depth that allows a coach to reasonably put an asset like Sharp on the third line is an insane luxury. It's the hockey equivalent of owning a private Bahamian island. 

While Sharp will play a depth role at even-strength upon his return, he practiced with the Blackhawks' first power play unit Monday. A right-handed shooter, Sharp's presence as a trigger on that first unit could prove crucial. 

The winger is expected to return for Tuesday's game between the Blackhawks and the New Jersey Devils.