Toews takes losing hard

Long after the Blackhawks finished their 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers at the United Center on Sunday, rookie Jonathan Toews sat at his locker in full uniform staring straight ahead.

Others sitting nearby were ticked off as well -- Patrick Sharp, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Kane and James Wisniewski -- but it was Toews appearing to take another loss the worst.

"We've just got to hate to lose a little more," Toews said.

Hawks coach Denis Savard managed a bit of a smile when asked about Toews' intensity.

"He cares," Savard said. "I think you guys know what he's all about already. He wants to win, but he can't do it by himself. Everybody needs to jump on board here.

"It's great. It's awesome. That's what I'm saying, everybody has to jump on board with him."

Toews played a whopping 22 minutes and 40 seconds, most among the forwards, and led the Hawks with 8 shots on goal.

Work to do: A few weeks ago on Nov. 30, the Hawks were riding high at five games over .500 at 14-9-2 following a 6-1 win over Phoenix.

Now they are back at 15-15-2 and spinning their wheels.

"We know we've got 50 games to go here," Denis Savard said. "I don't like to look too far ahead, but it'll probably take us 30 wins to get in the playoffs. That's our goal. It's very possible. We've got the ingredients; we've just got to bleed a little more."

In and out: Winger Sergei Samsonov and defenseman Andrei Zyuzin were healthy scratches.

Samsonov has no goals in 22 games and may be close to running out of chances.

"I think I've given enough opportunities to some guys," Denis Savard said.

Center Yanic Perreault was in the lineup but was minus-2 in less than six minutes of ice time and could be on thin ice with Savard as well.

The buzz: Trade talk is heating up around the NHL with the holiday roster freeze set to start Wednesday and extend through Dec. 27.

The Hawks continue to be mentioned in several rumors, the latest involving Anaheim but not for defenseman Mathieu Schneider. Instead, the Hawks are believed to be one of several clubs inquiring about Ducks hard-hitting defenseman Francois Beauchemin.

Even after dealing center Andy McDonald to St. Louis, Ducks general manager Brian Burke still may be looking to shed more payroll to accommodate the return of Scott Niedermayer and the possible return of Teemu Selanne.

At least three teams are looking for goaltending help as well in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay.