Blackhawks place Bickell on IR, recall Simpson
The Chicago Blackhawks placed forward Bryan Bickell on injured reserve retroactive to Nov. 19 when he suffered a lower-body injury reported to be to his left leg.
Goaltender Kent Simpson was recalled from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League to fill Bickell's roster spot.
Bickell has been out since the injury, but coach Joel Qunneville said he's making progress and Bickell did return to the ice for the first time Sunday.
"It was good to see him out there but we'll get a better indication, I guess, (when he's) out there with everybody," Quenneville said Sunday.
Simpson, 21, was a second-round pick in 2010. He has posted a 6-7-0 record with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage in 15 games with Rockford this season.
