Countdown To The Trade Deadline: Up To Date Rumors And Discussion(Hawks Edition)

[icehogfan08]

State of the Chicago Blackhawks: NHL Trade Deadline Edition

Today is the 1st installment of our expanded NHL Trade Deadline coverage. We’ll be posting team outlooks leading up to trade deadline over the next couple weeks from a variety of contributing writers.

Written by Tab Bamford of TheFourthPeriod.com and can be found on twitter at @The1Tab

The Chicago Blackhawks are in the mix for the best record in the Western Conference, but are equally close to fourth place in the Central Division. With a good, young core locked up and over $5 million in cap space, the Blackhawks will be buyers at the deadline.

What will be the Blackhawks wants/needs?

1. Top-four defenseman

The Hawks have one of the best top pairs in the league with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, but have been searching for the right formula all season in the wake of Brian Campbell being traded to Florida during the draft.

Nick Leddy’s developing nicely, but has been better when held under 20 minutes per game over the last month. Meanwhile, Niklas Hjalmarsson appears to have peaked as a number 4-5 defenseman who excels at blocking shots and killing penalties, but has not taken the next step in his development yet.

Some players the Hawks might target include Tim Gleason in Carolina, Hal Gill and/or Chris Campoli in Montreal, and, if Brian Burke puts him on the market, Cody Franson.

2. Top-six forward (second line center)

Chicago has been impressed with the play of rookie Marcus Kruger, but he hasn’t been an impact on the offensive side of the ice. If GM Stan Bowman can get his hands on a legitimate top-six forward, or, more specifically, a second line center.

Buffalo’s Derek Roy is a name that has been prominently linked to Chicago lately. The Hawks have also been rumored to have interest in Columbus center Derick Brassard, Montreal forwards Travis Moen and Andrei Kostitsyn and former-Chicago wing Tuomo Ruutu of the Canes. Chicago could look into a number of other options up front if injuries hit between now and the deadline.

There are a couple factors to consider when assessing the Blackhawks approach to the trade deadline.

First, they’ll be getting a better left wing/center back from injury than they would be able to acquire via trade when Patrick Sharp returns after the All-Star Break. Also, they’re getting a really nice season from affordable Viktor Stalberg (14 G, 15 A, +7) as their top line left wing.

Secondly, the Blackhawks’ front office has worked hard to stockpile a good group of NHL prospects that are all over the map, from the AHL affiliate (Rockford IceHogs) to juniors and college ranks.

A couple players on the NHL roster that have disappointed this year have been Bryan Bickell and, to a much lesser extent, Michael Frolik. Bickell has lost his spot on the depth chart to rookie Jimmy Hayes, and has been a healthy scratch for most of January. He did, however, score 17 goals last year and has one more year left on a contract for just above the league minimum. Frolik, meanwhile, has two more seasons on his contract with a modest cap number of just over $2.3M per.

If the Blackhawks put prospects in play, a couple names to watch are defensemen Brian Connelly and Shawn Lalonde. Connelly was named to his second consecutive AHL All-Star Game on Tuesday, but hasn’t been able to crack the NHL in Chicago. Lalonde, a younger prospect with a higher ceiling, may be the asset Bowman uses to attract a better veteran player. With other talented defensemen like Dylan Olsen, Adam Clendening and Stephen Johns in the organization, the Hawks may choose to deal from a position of strength, and Lalonde and Connelly might be the players on their way out.

 

[icehogfan08]

^ looks like an older article, but it was just posted recently

 

[DewsSox79]

no to moen as the premier deal for the hawks.

 

[icehogfan08]

Heres a little report to

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is still looking for a top 4 puck moving defenseman, and a veteran forward, preferably a center. He’s said he’d move picks and prospects, and has a tendency to look for players who are not just rentals. Stars Steve Ott and Mike Ribeiro may be available, but their cost could be high. Blackhawks Jimmy Hayes is said to interest teams. The Hawks were said to have interest in Kyle Quincey and Nicklas Grossman before they were dealt. The Leafs could be looking to move Cody Franson or Luke Schenn.

 

[icehogfan08]

^ I can see a deal with Toronto, especially if it involved Beach ore Hayes. Burke likes the big guys like that who can play and what not

 

[icehogfan08]

This was just released on CSN

In order to acquire a quality player, it's entirely possible that Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is going to have to give up a young one in return.

Reports last week indicated the Dallas Stars asked for 19-year-old Brandon Saad in return for an average defenseman in 27-year-old Nicklas Grossman. Saad -- with 24 goals and 35 assists in 33 games for the OHL's Saginaw Spirit -- could be a major part of the Hawks future and Bowman correctly turned the deal down.

But there are several other candidates that could be wearing a different sweater in a matter of days. As the Chicago Sun-Times points out, several Blackhawks prospects could interest opposing teams.

Unfortunately, Bryan Bickell and Michael Frolik -- having struggled the majority of this season -- don't have much trade value at the moment. Thus, the pool shrinks. Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri have had a cup of tea at the NHL level, but have yet to show much. It's unlikely teams would be willing to give up much for either of them at this point.

Blackhawks 2011 first-round draft pick Mark McNeill has reportedly drawn interest, but it might take someone with a decent amount of NHL service to swing a decent deal.

What it essentially boils down to is that one of Marcus Kruger, Dylan Olsen, Jimmy Hayes and Andrew Shaw might have to be shipped out. Each player has shown signs they can produce in different ways. Kruger is strong on both ends of the ice and starting to show a willingness to score goals in tough areas. Hayes at excelled at using his 6-foot-6 frame and Olsen has not shied away from using his body to play a physical game. Shaw had #ShawFacts -- enough said.

 

[a. gandia]

ESPN REprts

Chicago Blackhawks: The Hawks had a four-game winning streak stopped by suddenly surging Dallas on Thursday night. And while the nine-game winless streak that threatened to sink the Blackhawks’ season seems a thing of the past, there is more than a little pressure on GM Stan Bowman to get defensive help. But where? Sheldon Souray’s Stars are now a playoff team, at least temporarily, so that would suggest GM Joe Nieuwendyk will have to be bowled over with an offer to move the big defenseman, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. There’s also Marek Zidlicky, whose pointed criticism of head coach Mike Yeo after being a healthy scratch recently suggests he would be available. Earlier rumors had Zidlicky going to New Jersey, and he might not represent the toughness Bowman would like to add. Roman Hamrlik has been a disaster in Washington this season and he shot back at head coach Dale Hunter after Hunter benched the veteran defenseman during a recent loss, so he might be available. As recently as 2010, Hamrlik was a big part of Montreal’s surprise run to the Eastern Conference final and could help eat up minutes for the Blackhawks. It’s also believed Chicago had interest in Ruutu and would like to add a little sand to a potent offensive group. Hard to imagine the Kings would make a deal within the conference, so don’t imagine Brown will be an option there.

 

[tbo41fan]

This was just released on CSN

Shaw I can part with

Olsen, Hayes, Kruger I would like to hold on to

 

[tbo41fan]

the only reason I want Kruger is because I would like to see Bolland moved this summer for either a top 4 dman or top 6 forward and then have Kruger take over that 3rd line center role (I think he is a perfect fit for 3rd line)

 

[DMelt36]

Shaw I can part with

Olsen, Hayes, Kruger I would like to hold on to

Agreed on Shaw. He's really just a slightly less talkative Burish.

 

[DMelt36]

the only reason I want Kruger is because I would like to see Bolland moved this summer for either a top 4 dman or top 6 forward and then have Kruger take over that 3rd line center role (I think he is a perfect fit for 3rd line)

YOU BITE YOUR FUCKING TONGUE

I say that because I got a Bolland jersey for Christmas and I need at least 2 or 3 more years out of it before he leaves town.

Also, I always thought Kruger was supposed to be a 2nd line guy, not 3rd line.

 

[tbo41fan]

YOU BITE YOUR FUCKING TONGUE

I say that because I got a Bolland jersey for Christmas and I need at least 2 or 3 more years out of it before he leaves town.

Also, I always thought Kruger was supposed to be a 2nd line guy, not 3rd line.

IDK, he has been solid defensively (more 3rd line than 2nd IMO), and we can probably get a good return for Bolland...lol

 

[DMelt36]

IDK, he has been solid defensively (more 3rd line than 2nd IMO), and we can probably get a good return for Bolland...lol

True, Bolland would probably yield a nice return. He's one of the top checking centers in the NHL, particularly in the playoffs. Just ask the Sedins.

I'm a bit skeptical on entrusting a young player with a big defensive role, though, after seeing what's happened to Nick Leddy this year, in Brian Campbell's absence.

 

[tbo41fan]

True, Bolland would probably yield a nice return. He's one of the top checking centers in the NHL, particularly in the playoffs. Just ask the Sedins.

I'm a bit skeptical on entrusting a young player with a big defensive role, though, after seeing what's happened to Nick Leddy this year, in Brian Campbell's absence.

I think kruger could manage the third line if he gets help

right now rolling with bickell and frolik, yeah...its gonna be rough. lol

 

[DMelt36]

I think kruger could manage the third line if he gets help

right now rolling with bickell and frolik, yeah...its gonna be rough. lol

Bickell-Bolland-Stalberg has been working rather nicely of late.

 

[tbo41fan]

Bickell-Bolland-Stalberg has been working rather nicely of late.

Stalberg has been rolling with Hossa too which I love...Hossa's strength and Stalberg's speed are a deadly combo

 

[southern_cross_116]

Still too much of a load but that's happens when your head coach thinks John Scott is a d-man or NHL quality. ity:

Joe, be fair about it - he also thinks he's an NHL calibre winger too. . .

 

[DewsSox79]

Yeah I cant say I am a fan of moving Bolland at the deadline of the offseason. As far as stalberg with hossa, that needs to NOT happen anymore. Too many missed oppurtunities on that line. Hossa cant feed Stalberg, stalberg cant be counted on to feed Hossa. There may be segments of games where its worked out fine, but I dont trust that to work on a long term basis.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Hawks interested in Brassard?

Wouldn't be a blockbuster but he'd be a nice forward addition if they were able to spend big on defense (which I think they should).

 

[DewsSox79]

Hawks interested in Brassard?

Wouldn't be a blockbuster but he'd be a nice forward addition if they were able to spend big on defense (which I think they should).

its hard to tell if brassard is what he is or if he is a product of a bad team. That is my only concern.