There’s no sense sugarcoating it: Winger Brendan Perlini has given the Blackhawks nothing since being acquired from the Coyotes, along with center Dylan Strome, for center Nick Schmaltz on Nov. 25.
Nothing, as in zero points in six games. Nothing, as in a measly three shots on goal and a minus-6 rating. Nothing, as in an insufficient supply of ‘‘RPMs,’’ as coach Jeremy Colliton put it when describing why Perlini was scratched Sunday against the Canadiens.
Perlini, 22, likely will be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Jets in Winnipeg. Is he feeling pressure to flip the switch and start producing?
‘‘Nah, not really,’’ he said after participating in an optional practice Monday at MB Ice Arena. ‘‘I’m an easygoing guy. I just like to come and play hockey, and that’s it. I don’t think crazy things and blah, blah, blah. I just like to have fun, do my thing, work hard, improve. Hopefully the rest falls into place.’’
It’s possible a team that has won only three times in its last 21 games could use a greater sense of urgency than that from Perlini, though it’s certainly still too early to draw any conclusions about the way he is wired. In Phoenix, he was known as much for his disappearing acts as he was for his flashes of high-level speed and skill. Perlini had 33 goals and 24 assists in 153 games with the Coyotes.
He admits getting used to his new environment hasn’t been an entirely seamless experience, though he’s appreciative of the opportunity to play with some guys who’ve won and won big.
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‘‘Obviously, some unbelievable players,’’ he said. ‘‘Yeah, the team is going through a skid, but you take a look around the room — [Jonathan] Toews, [Patrick] Kane, all the guys who have won things and done tremendous things in the game — those are the guys you want to be around and learn from and improve from. For me, regardless of what the situation is, I’m always going to try to improve and better myself.’’
Schmaltz, too, had a chance to play with and learn from those same stars. Perhaps having that foundation has helped him get off to a hot start — three goals and six points in six games — with the Coyotes.
Meanwhile, the rush is on to determine which team won the trade because that’s just how we on Planet Sports do things. Considering the play of Schmaltz and Perlini — one thriving, the other not — the early analysis doesn’t favor the Hawks.
‘‘Everyone’s got opinions on everything,’’ Perlini said. ‘‘Whether you think they [won] or we did, whatever. I have opinions on if [Cristiano] Ronaldo should’ve went to Juventus in the summer or not or stayed at Real Madrid. We all have our own opinions, but things are going to happen, and I can only control what I can control.’’
NOTE: Center Artem Anisimov is in the concussion protocol and won’t be with the Hawks in Winnipeg. He was injured in the first minute of the third period against the Canadiens when Shea Weber put a hard shoulder into his chest along the boards.
Anisimov had been productive lately, with four goals and two assists in his last 10 games.
‘‘He has been playing really well lately, so, yeah, it’s unfortunate both for him [and] for the team,’’ coach Jeremy Colliton said.
