Khabibulin creating one odd situation

There is a grand irony in the Blackhawks' desperate attempt to trade goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin.

While it must be done to alleviate the logjam in net and the dearth of cap space, the reality is Khabibulin might offer the Hawks their best chance to make the playoffs this season.

Khabibulin has played well as the Hawks continue to showcase him, and that's partly because he's never better than when he's playing for a contract and fearing for his NHL life.

This Khabibulin - unlike the one you've seen the last few years - is capable of carrying a team for long stretches.

He received a blaring wake-up call when the Hawks put him on waivers in late September.

The one-time Stanley Cup champ cleared and could have been sent to Rockford, an insult Khabibulin never could have imagined when he signed here after the lockout as the Hawks' prized free-agent acquisition.

But in his current frame of mind, he's better than Cristobal Huet, who's set to take Khabibulin's place as the expensive free-agent goalie with a load of pressure, trying to prove he's worth the money.

So, yes, the Hawks backed themselves into a corner and have to trade Khabibulin, but they do it knowing that they're trading a guy who's finally living up to the contract they gave him three years ago.

Odd situation, to be sure.

Stocking stuffer

Why not Jake Peavy to the White Sox?

Good question.

Right now Peavy's considering only a few select NL clubs. But should he decide to ponder some American League teams, winning is his priority, and for that reason and others he hasn't ruled out the Sox.

The Sox would be in the running, a source tells us, assuming GM Kenny Williams has a mutual interest, and you'd have to think it's something he'd explore if given the chance.

But Williams is almost at a disadvantage in one respect. Unlike a lot of teams, the Sox do have talented, young, inexpensive starting pitching, which is what the Padres want and what Williams will not trade.

Williams is as aggressive as they come, but he wouldn't dream of trading John Danks or Gavin Floyd.

However, if he can find a way to make it happen without them involved, a rotation featuring Peavy, Danks, Floyd and Mark Buehrle is a pretty nice way to start your season.

Keep in mind, however, that at this point Peavy is only looking at the National League.

Just coaching

After his emotional rant Sunday, Mike Singletary is going to take a beating from the knuckle-draggers who believe he's not cerebral enough to coach an NFL team, but if you know anything at all about the man, you know he's as cerebral as anyone who ever played the game.

Given a choice, I'd take "we go out and hit people in the mouth'' over "Rex is our quarterback.''

The Zimmer files

Of the many conversations with Don Zimmer during Tampa's ALDS win over the White Sox, one stands out. He said that while he rarely goes to players anymore, he did feel the need to lecture two young Rays during spring training.

"A couple kids have come to me for help, and a couple I've went to on my own,'' Zimmer said. "It's not so much what to do. I've talked to them about what not to do, how they can screw this up.

"They have a gift, great ability. You just hope they can get the most out of it and not blow it by doing something really stupid.''

I guessed B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford. Zimmer smiled but did not elaborate.

The good cause

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Wolves will use pink sticks in warmups Wednesday night before their game with Providence, and will autograph the sticks for auction during the game.

Fans also can purchase pink "Stick it to Breast Cancer'' T-shirts for a $20 donation. For more info, visit chicagowolves.com.

Condolences

To the family of former Blackhawks media-relations director Jim DeMaria, who lost his father, Jerry, last week.

Congrats

To 18-year-old Kyle Kopsick of Lake Bluff, who was named a first-team All-American on Monday by the American Junior Golf Association.

Best call

Eddie Olczyk on Versus Monday night, tabbing Minnesota's Mikko Koivu as the most underrated player in the NHL.

Best line

An MLB exec, thinking aloud about the winter meetings being held in Las Vegas in December: "You might see some of the worst deals in the history of the game, and the best part is guys won't even remember they made them.''

And finally -

Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News, on the latest NFL steroid scandal: "All I can say is, it's a good thing they aren't baseball players. Because that would really get people upset.''

brozner@dailyherald.com