On the Chicago Blackhawks …
- Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune: The Blackhawks have already made a few small trades this month and GM Stan Bowman is pondering some other options. Bowman said it’s not easy to find trade targets as there are not a lot of teams selling.
“You’re not quite sure what’s available,” Bowman said Tuesday. “There’s a lot of clustering in the standings. And for trades you have to have teams willing to look toward next year. … There might be one or two around the league already that don’t think this is their year. But there’s still a large number that aren’t at that point.”
Fans and analysts are debating if the Blackhawks should look to add a top-six forward (a left winger to play with Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews) or a top-four defenseman. They may not have the cap space to add both, but they should be able to get one. Bowman said he has some idea of who might become available, but added:
“Then it just becomes, ‘Is there a match and does it work, do you have what they are looking for?'” Bowman said. “And we have some players who have come in (this season) who haven’t really had a big role yet.”
The Blackhawks are currently first in the Western Conference.
“There’s a lot this group has achieved so far,” Bowman said. “So if we don’t bring in anyone new, it’s not going to be a big disappointment. But it’s our job to try to improve the team if we can.”
- Stan Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune: Rosenbloom thinks that the Blackhawks need to a top-six forward and a top-four defenseman. Not easy to do as teams may not want to help out the Blackhawks and with their salary cap situation.Bowman has also talked about them signing Artemi Panerin to long-term contract.The Blackhawks should call the Jets about winger Andrew Ladd, though there is the salary cap issue.
Rosenbloom thinks they might have trade someone like Teuvo Teravainen or Trevor van Riemsdyk to help fill their need for this year.