EDMONTON - It wasn’t that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins didn’t try to convince his head coach that he was ready to return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup.

He just didn’t have much of a voice.

Tom Renney had already decided to hold out his star rookie for the game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“It was a function of me asking a couple of questions and assuring him that we’ll work off my timetable,” said Renney. “I said thanks for the feedback.”

Both Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who injured his shoulder in Chicago on Jan. 2, and defenceman Cam Barker, who had his ankle surgically repaired in November, were held out of the lineup on Thursday. Both will be back in the lineup on Saturday when the Oilers host the Detroit Red Wings.

“I would always be prudent with a young player,” Renney said. “In most cases, this is the first time they’ve been hurt at the NHL level and coming back into the best league in the world is not easy to do even when you’re healthy (and have been scratched). There’s a part of me that wants to be 100-per-cent sure because the future of this organization is in the hands of these young players.”Morrison dons Hawks jerseyBrendan Morrison was out on a fishing boat, off the coast of Vancouver Island, kicking back during the NHL all-star break, when he got a phone call that would dramatically alter his course.

The veteran was dealt from the Calgary Flames to the Chicago Blackhawks for minor league defenceman Brian Connelly.

“This team, in my opinion, has as good a chance as anybody to win and compete for the Stanley Cup, so I’m excited,” said Morrison, who has spent 15 years in the league but has never experienced a championship run.

“It’s a two-way street here. Sure I’m a veteran guy, but I’m in a room now with a bunch of guys who recently won the Cup, which I haven’t done. I can learn from them as well.

“This is a tremendous hockey club with a lot of high-end talent. There’s a lot of guys who can break games open by themselves.

“The tough part is that I have four young kids at home and I’m going to be apart from the family, but they’re all on board. My wife understands this is a pretty good opportunity as far as continuing on into the post-season with a chance to compete for the ultimate prize.”

Morrison is not only playing for a contender, he’s playing a key role.

On his way back from a knee injury that he sustained against Chicago last March, the 36-year-old centre was not playing a lot of minutes in Calgary.

The Blackhawks have him skating with Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa.

“He helps us in the middle, gives us some good experience. He’s reliable defensively as well,” said Chicago coach Joel Quenneville, “and he comes in with a good opportunity to play with a couple of good guys.

“I just think that down the stretch, he can help us in key areas.”

Morrison will return to Calgary on Friday, say his goodbyes, then play his third game as a Blackhawk.

After the all-star break, he zipped back to Calgary to grab some things then met the Hawks in Vancouver for Tuesday’s showdown against the Canucks.

“It’s always fun to play against your ex-teammates and your friends. Tomorrow’s game will be no different. I just have a chance to do it pretty early on,” he said. “I haven’t seen anybody so I’ll see them for a bit tomorrow then it’s time to move on.

“I understand what they’re trying to do in Calgary: they’re trying to get a little younger; I didn’t play a whole lot this year, etc., etc. I thought something might happen closer to the deadline, but this might work out better because it gives me a longer opportunity to be with the team and mesh with guys.”Blackhawks on long tourTwo down, seven to go.

The Blackhawks are at the front end of a nine-game road trip that wraps up against the Blue Jackets on Feb. 18 in Columbus. It is the club’s longest road trip since their nine-game exodus in 1994.

Booted out of the United Centre for an ice show, they will dart home ­after their game in Calgary and again after a Feb. 11 contest against Phoenix.

“We have a real tough stretch here. The month of February is going to be taxing. We need to break it down,” said Quenneville.

jireland@edmontonjournal.com

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