"Brian Campbell had big plans for this season. The Blackhawks defenseman had hoped to assert himself more offensively and was looking forward to the chance to play on the penalty kill.

It still can happen. Campbell just has to wait for his injured right knee to heal.

''It's going to be tough missing the start of the season,'' Campbell said Sunday. ''I felt great [and] was playing quite a few minutes and felt good, in shape, ready to go. Kind of a fluke [injury]. ... It's pretty disappointing.''

Campbell said he strained his medial collateral ligament and his knee was hyperextended. The plan is to start skating in three weeks and return to game action in four to five.

''I was near the blue line,'' Campbell said of the injury, which occurred Friday at the United Center against the Pittsburgh Penguins. ''If his knee had been a little bit to the left or right, nothing. It was just the way he hit me straight on. My knee buckled straight back. They don't like to move that way.''"