Tallon: Byfuglien not in trade talks
TORONTO - The Blackhawks have been interested in Washington Capitals center Michael Nylander since back in training camp. This is nothing new.
Whether they are able to complete a trade for the 36-year-old veteran could be played out over the next several days, but Hawks general manager Dale Tallon claimed Friday that winger Dustin Byfuglien has not been part of any trade talks with the Capitals.
"His name was never mentioned in any deal," Tallon said. "I have no idea how this started."
Perhaps it's because Byfuglien's contract ($3 million a year through 2011) is somewhat comparable to Nylander's $4.87 million cap hit. But Byfuglien is the kind of young player Tallon is trying to build around, not give away for an aging veteran.
Byfuglien left Thursday's morning skate in Dallas early because of an undisclosed injury that forced him to miss the Hawks' 6-3 win, not because he was being traded.
"He wasn't healthy to go," said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville, who listed Byfuglien as day-to-day.
Defenseman Brent Sopel was a healthy scratch and could be a player involved in the Nylander talks.
A source close to the Capitals said the team is looking for defensive help along the lines of a stay-at-home kind of guy that is dependable. Sopel has two years left on his contract and carries a $2.3 million cap hit.
Acquiring a center such as Nylander would allow the Hawks to move Patrick Sharp back to wing, but would Sharp automatically return to the top line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane with rookie Kris Versteeg playing so well?
Versteeg has been a major surprise over the first 18 games. Quenneville could leave Versteeg with Toews and Kane and move Sharp to wing on the second line with the new center and Martin Havlat.
Versteeg has quickly established himself as a serious contender for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
"I don't care if I'm surprising anyone," Versteeg said. "All I care about is if the Chicago Blackhawks win. If I am surprising people, so be it. I've always known what I could do, and that's not trying to be arrogant or cocky. I'm just confident in what I can do."
The Hawks are 2-0 after two stops on their six-game road trip and meet the Maple Leafs tonight at Air Canada Centre.
The Hawks played a terrific third period in Dallas after a sluggish start.
"We didn't like our start, but it was a great last 45-50 minutes," Quenneville said. "We checked well and were opportunistic with our chances."
Versteeg's goal in the last minute of the second period snapped a 3-3 tie and was one for the highlight reels as he took a pass from Brian Campbell and blew around the Dallas defense from the left. He then tucked the puck past goalie Marty Turco.
"That goal lit us all up," Quenneville said.
The Hawks also got a big effort from Ben Eager, promoted to the third line as Byfuglien's replacement. Eager had a goal and an assist in the win.
"It's nice to see guys jump in and take advantage of a little more quality minutes," Quenneville said.
• The Stars announced Friday that captain Brenden Morrow would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Morrow was hurt in Thursday's loss to the Hawks.