Hawks Talk: 3 solid goalies and a first-place team

For the past half-dozen years, the Blackhawks have been the gift that keeps on giving. So in the spirit of the day, we offer conversation about the first-place Hawks.

Q. With Scott Darling and Antti Raanta playing so well, is there any chance the Blackhawks decide to trade Corey Crawford after the season?

John: The salary cap - right now set at $69 million - is going to be a problem for the Hawks next season. General manager Stan Bowman is staring at a roster where nine players are set to make $57 million. Move one big salary - like Crawford's $6 million - and it creates a lot of breathing room.

As long as you have a defense like the Hawks do, a decent goalie is all they probably need to continue making runs at Stanley Cups.

Maybe Bowman rolls with Darling and Raanta. My guess is the odds of that happening actually increase if the Hawks win it all this season.

Mike: After the last two seasons and the way Crawford started out this year, I would've said not a chance.

But now, with the way Raanta and Darling have played in Crow's stead and the way coach Joel Quenneville has absolutely gushed about them, I'm changing my tune a bit.

It wouldn't shock me if they moved Crawford, but I still lean toward the Hawks keeping him and using either Darling or Raanta as a chip come trade deadline time.

Q. It's pretty difficult to find fault with how the Hawks are playing now without sounding nit-picky. But if there's one player you'd like to see a little more from in the second half, who would it be?

John: I came close to saying Andrew Shaw here, but I'd really like to see Brad Richards be more consistent.

He got off to a slow start, then tore it up with Patrick Kane and Kris Versteeg on the second line for the better part of a month.

Now all of a sudden, he's mired in a nine-game goal-less streak with just 2 assists in that span.

When he comes back from an upper-body injury that's kept him out of the last two games, hopefully Richards breaks out of this mini-slump and has a strong second half.

Mike: Bryan Bickell reminds me of my grade-school report cards: "Has the ability but doesn't always apply himself."

We've all seen how dominant the big guy can be in the playoffs, but thus far this season we've seen only flashes of that Bicks.

He admitted not too long ago that when he brings the physical his game improves. I see him doing both in the second half as a prelude for his personal prime time: the postseason.

Q. What has been your best 1-on-1 interview this year, or who is your favorite player to interview and why?

John: One thing I love about hockey players is how honest they are, even when a relatively unknown reporter is asking them questions. Case in point: In my first 1-on-1 interview with Patrick Kane, I asked him point blank how he thought he was performing 14 games into the season.

Many superstars would scoff at an interview with that opening, but not Kane. He was honest and forthright about the 1-goal-in-11-game stretch he was mired in.

"As an offensive guy you're always looking at how much you're producing and how much you're creating for the team," he said. "If it's not up to par, then obviously you're not doing something right and you're not doing your job."

It's those kinds of responses that show how much the Hawks care about winning - for themselves, for their teammates, for their coaches … and for the rabid Blackhawks fans.

Mike: Does Rocky count?

The guy is the most chill gazillionaire around, and it was a blast talking to him.

As for the players, like you said, they're all good, so it's hard to pick one.

Cop out? Eh, probably.

Q. Who's your pick to click in the second half? It could be someone who's already cranking or someone who's about to kick it up a notch.

John: Patrick Kane is playing some spectacular hockey and may actually threaten his career high in points (88 in 2009-10).

But my pick to click is 35-year-old Marian Hossa. The savvy veteran was one of the few players - maybe the only one - who looked good Tuesday in a 5-1 loss to Winnipeg. My gut says Hossa, who has just 7 goals, adds 14-16 more from this point forward.

Mike: You can never, ever go wrong with Hoss, but my pick is another veteran - Patrick Sharp.

He's back, refreshed, and looks more determined than ever.

He won't admit it and neither will his teammates, but that even-strength goal he scored the other night in Columbus - his first in a long time - was a pretty big deal.

I think that's going to be the catalyst for some big things down the stretch for No. 10.