Blackhawks notebook: Kris Versteeg’s Rockford contract not a ‘joke’

Winger Kris Versteeg hardly fits the bill of a minor-league player, with 643 games of NHL experience, two Stanley Cups and a place in Blackhawks lore forever.

On stage Saturday at the Blackhawks Convention at the Hilton Chicago, he chatted with other alumni from the 2010 Cup-winning team, kicking off a yearlong celebration of the 10-year anniversary of that squad.

But Versteeg, 33, will be back in Rockford this season for the first time since 2008 after signing a one-year American Hockey League-only contract in April. He’s undeniably an odd fit, but he’s taking the new job seriously.

‘‘If I didn’t think I could play hockey at a really high level, I’d just retire,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m excited . . . [to] go to Rockford and do some damage.’’

Versteeg almost did retire. He thought about it after playing in only 24 games with the Flames in 2017-18, then struggling in a brief stint with the Russian club Avangard Omsk at the start of last season.

But Versteeg tore up the top Swedish league at the end of last season, scoring 17 points in 19 games with Vaxjo HC and renewing his belief. One conversation with Hawks affiliate overseer Mark Bernard later, Versteeg had landed a contract in an unlikely place.

‘‘I don’t plan on going there and being a joke,’’ he said.

Blues’ title poorly received

The Hawks have needed a bitter rival since the Red Wings’ move to the Eastern Conference in 2013.

The Blues always have been the odds-on favorite to fill that role, but their Stanley Cup victory last month seemingly has cemented it.

The loudest fan applause Saturday came when winger Andrew Shaw, the kind of player who can create a rivalry by himself, told the crowd: ‘‘I can’t wait to beat up on the Blues.’’

Shaw’s elders on the team expressed similar feelings. Defenseman Brent Seabrook said Friday the onus is on the Hawks to ‘‘bump that rivalry up again.’’ And center Jonathan Toews gave the most telling quote of all.

‘‘Watching that Stanley Cup Final, it’s rare that you cheer for Boston,’’ he said, chuckling sheepishly. ‘‘But you don’t want to see St. Louis win.’’

Goalie-interference ambiguity

One of the NHL’s rule changes for the 2019-20 season will assess delay-of-game penalties for all failed goaltender-interference challenges. That doesn’t sit well with Hawks goaltending coach Jimmy Waite.

Previously, failed goalie-interference challenges only cost a team a timeout; the penalty punishment was reserved for failed offside challenges. Now teams will be able to challenge even after using their timeout — a small benefit — but likely will be reluctant to do so because of the harsher punishment.

That likely will mean fewer challenges and even more frustration about the inexact definition of goalie interference.

‘‘We don’t know anymore what’s goalie interference and what’s not,’’ Waite said at a panel for fans. ‘‘A lot of times, 100 percent I think it’s going to be interference, and it’s not. And the opposite is [often also] the same.’’