Ton
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Recent scout counts suggest that either these two teams are coincidentally scouting each others opponents over the weekend, or they are potential trade partners.
Pierre Gauthier, the Chicago Blackhawks Director of Player Personnel, attended last nights game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers. It's fairly interesting that the Blackhawks would send Gauthier to scout, it's not every day that they would send him out, and could suggest that a trade is imminent — although there hasn't been many rumors coming out of Montreal, or New York to suggest that. If anyone is familiar with the Blackhawks trade history, they are pretty tight lipped leading up to most acquisitions, and even the alleged insiders have had trouble identifying the right players or even the right teams before it happens.
If the rumors are true, and Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman truly had interest in Lubomir Visnovsky, perhaps they covet a good puck moving defenseman that can help out the power play. Bowman has also gone on record to say that, while he is comfortable with the current roster, he would like to add a center. This is a pure assumption, but I would guess that he would like to improve the Blackhawks face-off percentage.
If you take a look at the Rangers roster, they are a team that can supply exactly what the Blackhawks are looking for.
Derek Stepan, for example, has been the Rangers face-off leader all season long — taking over 650 draws in 34 games — although his percentage is under 50% (48%), he would still be an improvement over Dave Bolland on the second line. At 22 years old, his entry-level contract is expiring after this season. This would require the Blackhawks to make a true hockey trade, because this wouldn't be a rental, nor would Stepan come at a cheap price, but it could be worth the cost to solidify the Blackhawks center depth for many years to come.
Brian Boyle could be a cheaper target at center with good size and a fantastic face-off percentage above 55% on average, but less offensive potential. Boyle, 28, has one year remaining on his contract with a $1,700,000 cap hit.
Defensively, the Rangers have someone the Blackhawks could want in Michael Del Zotto, who is decent option for quarterbacking the power play and puts another offensive minded defenseman in the mix. Del Zotto is not a stranger to trade speculation either, so perhaps there is something to that. Del Zotto, 22, has one more year remaining with a $2,550,000 cap hit.
The Rangers have flown fairly low on the radar this deadline, so it's hard to determine who, or what the Blackhawks want from them and vice versa. It's just something to keep in mind as we inch closer to the April 3rd NHL trade deadline. I think if the two teams made a deal, it would have to be a pure hockey trade.
IN OTHER RUMORS — This isn't the only team in New York that the Blackhawks have kept an eye on. Reports also suggest that the Islanders and Blackhawks have kept in close contact over the last week. Initially, Chicago was interested in Visnovsky before he re-signed with the Islanders, but they may have moved onto discussions regarding Frans Nielsen and Mark Streit. The Islanders scouts were not in attendance on Friday when the Blackhawks played the Ducks.
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Pierre Gauthier, the Chicago Blackhawks Director of Player Personnel, attended last nights game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers. It's fairly interesting that the Blackhawks would send Gauthier to scout, it's not every day that they would send him out, and could suggest that a trade is imminent — although there hasn't been many rumors coming out of Montreal, or New York to suggest that. If anyone is familiar with the Blackhawks trade history, they are pretty tight lipped leading up to most acquisitions, and even the alleged insiders have had trouble identifying the right players or even the right teams before it happens.
If the rumors are true, and Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman truly had interest in Lubomir Visnovsky, perhaps they covet a good puck moving defenseman that can help out the power play. Bowman has also gone on record to say that, while he is comfortable with the current roster, he would like to add a center. This is a pure assumption, but I would guess that he would like to improve the Blackhawks face-off percentage.
If you take a look at the Rangers roster, they are a team that can supply exactly what the Blackhawks are looking for.
Derek Stepan, for example, has been the Rangers face-off leader all season long — taking over 650 draws in 34 games — although his percentage is under 50% (48%), he would still be an improvement over Dave Bolland on the second line. At 22 years old, his entry-level contract is expiring after this season. This would require the Blackhawks to make a true hockey trade, because this wouldn't be a rental, nor would Stepan come at a cheap price, but it could be worth the cost to solidify the Blackhawks center depth for many years to come.
Brian Boyle could be a cheaper target at center with good size and a fantastic face-off percentage above 55% on average, but less offensive potential. Boyle, 28, has one year remaining on his contract with a $1,700,000 cap hit.
Defensively, the Rangers have someone the Blackhawks could want in Michael Del Zotto, who is decent option for quarterbacking the power play and puts another offensive minded defenseman in the mix. Del Zotto is not a stranger to trade speculation either, so perhaps there is something to that. Del Zotto, 22, has one more year remaining with a $2,550,000 cap hit.
The Rangers have flown fairly low on the radar this deadline, so it's hard to determine who, or what the Blackhawks want from them and vice versa. It's just something to keep in mind as we inch closer to the April 3rd NHL trade deadline. I think if the two teams made a deal, it would have to be a pure hockey trade.
IN OTHER RUMORS — This isn't the only team in New York that the Blackhawks have kept an eye on. Reports also suggest that the Islanders and Blackhawks have kept in close contact over the last week. Initially, Chicago was interested in Visnovsky before he re-signed with the Islanders, but they may have moved onto discussions regarding Frans Nielsen and Mark Streit. The Islanders scouts were not in attendance on Friday when the Blackhawks played the Ducks.
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