For Tallon, it's time to make a move to get another scorer
With rookie sensation Jonathan Toews undergoing an MRI examination today, the Blackhawks will have to replace more than his scoring ability. Even at 19, he's one of the team's key leaders.
The Blackhawks have big problems.
As the injury list grows, the more improbable it seems that the Hawks can hold it all together and stay in the playoff race in the Western Conference.
When Jonathan Toews undergoes an MRI today on the left knee he injured in Tuesday's embarrassing 9-2 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles, the Hawks' season might hang in the balance.
If the news is good and Toews' knee is simply sprained, he could be back in the lineup in 2-4 weeks, which still would give the Hawks enough time to make a playoff run.
But if the injury is more serious and Toews is out longer, the Hawks might be done.
With all due respect to Martin Havlat, Toews is the Hawks' best all-around player and one of the key leaders in the dressing room, even at 19.
Toews a long time ago became the Hawks' No. 1 center. Robert Lang is having a nice season, but he is more of a support player at this late stage of his career. Toews is everything a No. 1 center should be.
As the injuries have piled up, we've been hearing for weeks about how much better the Hawks' depth is this season. That's somewhat true, but the mere number of bodies and players who can come up from the minors and hold their own in an NHL game doesn't necessarily equal depth.
The best definition of depth is having the kind of players who can come up and make a difference in games and not just log ice time. So far, Rockford call-ups such as Petri Kontiola, Cam Barker, Kris Versteeg, Mike Blunden, Martin St. Pierre, Danny Richmond and Colin Fraser haven't demonstrated that they can be counted on to help much -- particularly when it comes to replacing missing offense.
It appears time for general manager Dale Tallon to make a move to help keep the Hawks' season afloat, a move more significant than shipping out Jim Vandernmeer for fourth-liner Ben Eager.
Tallon needs to find another scorer, and he has been looking. Scorers are not easy to find, and those teams that might be willing to part with skill players set to become unrestricted free agents this summer aren't quite ready to pull the trigger with the playoff races still wide open and the Feb. 26 trade deadline a long way off.
Tallon is in a tough spot. He has plenty of assets other teams want in young prospects, but does he bust up part of what he has been trying to build in order to make the playoffs?
Circumstances dictate it might be time to move prospects for immediate help, if possible. The Hawks ought to know by now which kids they think are going to make it down the road, and which ones aren't.
The Hawks simply can't write off this season and blame it on injuries while telling fans to wait for next year. Their momentum is too strong. There is interest again. Fans are coming back. The United Center is filling up.
Tallon needs to keep the Hawks competitive right now, keep the momentum going and worry about next season over the summer.