Trade for Pahlsson signals Hawks' desire to make a run in the playoffs

If inside the Blackhawks' dressing room players were unsure of what management expected down the stretch and into the playoffs, they know now.

The acquisition of center Sami Pahlsson at Wednesday's trade deadline for useful defenseman James Wisniewski sent a message loud and clear that simply making the playoffs won't be good enough.

Pahlsson was brought in to help get the Hawks through the first round and possibly beyond.

"Obviously they're looking at the long run here this year, and so are we," defenseman Cam Barker said. "We want to make a run, and obviously him coming to our lineup is going to be a huge difference. He's got experience and won a Stanley Cup. He's obviously a guy that's going to bring some character here and some leadership."

It was hard for Hawks coach Joel Quenneville to hide how happy he was to be adding Pahlsson to his lineup once the 31-year-old Swede regains his strength from a bout with mononucleosis.

"I always thought Sami was a special player," Quenneville said. "He usually gets the top assignments in the Western Conference and the last three or four years you could argue he's deserving of the Selke (Trophy), or is the type of player that represents that award.

"He's not an easy guy to play against. He kills penalties, takes faceoffs, is very competitive, is a good team guy and has won a Cup. So it really fulfills a need."

Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell got to see a little more of Pahlsson than most of his teammates while with San Jose late last season and remembered one thing in particular.

"When I played against him, I noticed you're not hitting a mushy guy. You're hitting a brick," Campbell said. "He's strong like that. He's got a strong stick and when he's on the ice big guys aren't going to be able to outmuscle him maybe, and that's going to help us tremendously. He can do lots of things for us."

With Pahlsson not ready to play for at least a week, Quenneville has plenty of time to figure out who might play with him and if Dave Bolland's role will change. Up until now Bolland has drawn all the tough defensive assignments with linemates Martin Havlat and Andrew Ladd.

"I think we'll see," Quenneville said. "Bolland's done a remarkable job in the role. And having something to consider is a great option, but we'll visit that along the way."

Quenneville must decide if he wants to put together a checking line, such as Pahlsson, Ladd and perhaps Troy Brouwer, or simply slide Phalsson into the third line between Dustin Byfuglien and Kris Versteeg.

"Right now I'd like to say we'd just like to let him play his game," Quenneville said. "I think one thing about him is he's not just a one-dimentional player where he can shut down guys. He can make plays and score goals.

"We'll have some time here between now and then to look at our options and we'll have some time probably to experiment as we go along, too. That versatility is something we like as well."

Pascal Pelletier, recalled from Rockford on Wednesday, will play center on the third line until Pahlsson is healthy.

Versteeg won't be going back to center anytime soon. He was back at wing in the last game and looked "way better there," according to Quenneville.

"He had some more speed in his game," Quenneville said. "He had the puck more and seemed to be forcing the play more. There was more quickness in his game."

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