Hawks focus on finding a center
Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon has been keeping a low profile.
The NHL trade deadline is Wednesday at 2 p.m., and whatever Tallon is thinking has been kept within the Hawks' inner circle that includes senior advisor Scotty Bowman, assistant GMs Rick Dudley and Stan Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville.
It was Quenneville on Saturday who admitted the Hawks probably needed another center, which was no real news but at least gave a hint of what was being talked about behind closed doors.
"I think everybody likes to improve their teams in ways and I think the one area, if we could, it would be nice to add some help down the middle, be it for faceoffs or some experience," Quenneville said again on Monday.
It's not likely the Hawks would make a major move, particularly with them about only $800,000 under the salary cap. But money could be freed up by moving players out in a trade or by sending people to Rockford, such as Jack Skille, Antti Niemi or even Cam Barker.
What players might be on the Hawks' radar?
Sami Pahlsson: The 31-year-old Anaheim center is sidelined with mono, which complicates his situation. Pahlsson has appeared in 64 playoff games and was a checking force in 2007 when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup. He wins 53 percent of his faceoffs.
Tim Connolly: The Buffalo center fits the mold of the kind of guy Tallon wants to add. He's only 27, is 6-feet-1 and 196 pounds, and highly skilled. He might be the best all-around center available, though injury prone, should the Sabres decide to move him. Connolly has a $2.9 million cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent like Pahlsson.
Ian Laperriere: The Avalanche pest is more of a winger than center, but he is nasty to play against and has 54 games of playoff experience.
Radek Bonk: The Nashville center is out with an undisclosed injury but expected back in another week. He's a 62 percent faceoff guy, No. 1 in the NHL, and will be an unrestricted free agent as well.
Nik Antropov: Some scouts think Antropov doesn't skate well enough to fit in with the Hawks and can be lazy. He's also set to become an unrestricted free agent. He is big, but he wins only 41 percent of his faceoffs.
Dominic Moore: Another Toronto center, Moore 12 goals and 41 points and wins 55 percent of his faceoffs. Would he help? Maybe, but the Maple Leafs aren't sure they want to part with him.
Jeff Halpern: The 32-year-old Tampa Bay center is a solid player who isn't flashy or a big scorer. He's got decent size, wins 55 percent of his faceoffs and is signed through next season at $2 million.
Mark Recchi: Don't laugh. The 40-year-old Lightning winger could help a lot of teams on the power play in the playoffs, including the Hawks. Recchi has 117 points in 140 playoff games.
Antoine Vermette: The Senators may or may not move him, but he is a center who could help anyone.
Steve Montador: He gets overlooked on Anaheim's star-studded defense, but he is plus-15 with an edgy 123 penalty minutes.
Chris Pronger: It would take two or three good, young players to get him away from the Ducks, and not prospects. Would you include 23-year-old Brent Seabrook in a deal for the 34-year-old Pronger? No way.