Hawks Headlines: Kostka, Stanton Battle for Roster Spot

Also, Johnny Oduya has emerged as a quiet leader on this team

In Friday's edition of Hawks Headlines, we take a look at the efforts the team made to get Jamal Mayers' name engraved on the Stanley Cup, as well as the battle betwen Mike Kostka and Ryan Stanton for the final defensive spot on the Chicago Blackhawks' roster.

- With the lockout shortened season last year, a player had to appear in either 23 regular season games or in one Stanley Cup Final game in order to have their name automatically engraved on the prized chalice. Jamal Mayers didn't fulfill either of those requirements, but being as the veteran had played his entire career without appearing on the trophy, the Hawks petitioned the league to include him, and the request was granted.

Obviously, this meant a lot to Mayers, and it was fantastic to read his quotes on the inclusion. [ESPN Chicago]

- Comcast Sportsnet's series called "Inside Look" will profile Hawks GM Stan Bowman on Friday at 12:30pm. [CSN Chicago]

- Johnny Oduya isn't the most vocal player on the Blackhawks, but he brings a quiet intensity to the team that is a big asset. Chris Kuc has more. [Chicago Tribune]

- The Rockford IceHogs are preparing for the upcoming AHL season, and the team's GM sat down with the Hawks' website to discuss how things were going. [Blackhawks.com]

- Mike Kostka and Ryan Stanton are both competing for a spot on the Hawks' roster, which is likely going to include eight defensemen in addition to 13 forwards and two goalies. Whichever one of them wins, they seem to have the full support of the other though. [Chicago Sun-Times]

- John Madden, who was a crucial penalty killer and face-off whiz for the 2010 Cup champion Hawks has landed a job as a scout with former Hawks GM Dale Tallon and the Florida Panthers. [NHL.com]

- Season previews are popping up all over the web with the start of the campaign just four short days away, and the crew at SCH has your positional preview of the Hawks' goaltenders. [Second City Hockey]

- Finally, one of the more interesting blogs about the newly formed Central Division (although author JR Lind would prefer it to stay Conference III, it's original moniker when realignment was first approved), Ill Communication has its weekly ranking of teams in the division. It's worth a look, if for no other reason than the funny tangents the entries take. [Ill Communication]

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