On the Chicago Blachkawks …
Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago: Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said yesterday that trade talk is “still pretty slow.” It could be a quiet year for the Blackhawks at the trade deadline.
“I’m not expecting to make a deal this year, unlike previous years,” Bowman said on Tuesday, prior to the Blackhawks’ game against the San Jose Sharks. “I suppose anything can happen but I’ve said this from the beginning of the year and I mean it: we have a different dynamic this year because we have a lot more young players who have been with our team this year from the beginning. We’ve already seen it with a few of them: they’re better now than they were in October. And if they keep on that trend, we should be a better team even if we have the exact same lineup.”
Bowman said that there isn’t a lot of players currently available, with many teams thinking they are still in it. Because of standing there are fewer players than ever on the trade market.
The Blackhawks could use a depth forward. By end of his media availability, Bowman mentions the he didn’t see “a big addition.
“There’s something to be said for chemistry and keeping your guys together and not having someone come in externally, swoop in and try to find a role for him,” Bowman said. “We’ll see. Things change quickly. But as we look at it today, I’m not expecting a big addition like that.”
Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times: Should take Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman’s comments “with a big grain of salt.” Bowman has said things like that in the past, and then made a bunch of trades at the deadline. The Blackhawks don’t have a lot of salary space though.
Bowman has acknowledge that they have a whole at left wing on their top line.
The Avs and Coyotes are out of the playoff race. The Blackhawks have talked to the Red Wings about Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar according to a source. The Wings are only seven points out with a game in hand, and still potentially have a shot.
Bowman figures trade talk will increase over the next couple weeks.
The Blackhawks are hosting the draft this year and keeping their first round pick is thought to be a priority. Hosting the draft may not be the primary factor in not making a trade though.