Hawks still in market for veteran defenseman
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The clock is ticking toward Monday’s trade deadline for Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman.
All indications point to Bowman acquiring a veteran defenseman before the deadline, but who will it be?
It won’t be Atlanta’s Brent Sopel, who was traded by the Thrashers to Montreal on Thursday, but there was no real evidence the Hawks had any interest in bringing Sopel back.
There has been speculation of interest in Anaheim’s Sheldon Brookbank, but the tough Brookbank doesn’t necessarily fit what the Hawks want, which is a mobile defenseman who can kill penalties.
A new rumor Thursday centered on Tampa Bay defenseman Brett Clark, who fits what the Hawks need. According to a source, however, to get Clark the Hawks might have to part with a forward off their present roster.
Clark plays 19 minutes in Tampa and has 8 goals, 15 assists and is minus-1. His $1.5 million cap hit also fits into what the Hawks can spend.
Bowman told the NHL Network on Wednesday he would prefer to deal an asset such as a draft pick or a prospect for a defenseman, but that might not leave him with many options in what has become a highly competitive trade market.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Thursday morning his focus was on the game with the Predators but that he likely would be talking with Bowman about the trade deadline throughout the weekend.
“Obviously we’re looking at some things you can do and want to do,” Quenneville said. “Sometimes you’re restricted, and that’s part of it as well. How it’s going to play out and unfold, at the end of the day if we get better it would be great.”
Defending Kane:Former Hawk Adam Burish came to Patrick Kane#146;s defense Thursday regarding last week#146;s Internet story claiming Kane missed two days of practice because of a hangover and not the flu.
#147;He comes to work every day,#148; Burish told NHL.com. #147;He#146;s the best player every day on the ice. So, he wants to go out and have dinner, have a beer, go hang out with some teammates on an off night, that#146;s no different than any other job.
#147;If he shows up to work every day and plays the right way, who#146;s to say what he can do at night or not?
#147;He understands the situations and he understands that he#146;s a superstar and everybody#146;s watching him, and he deals with it pretty darn good. He deals with it better than most people do. To me, he#146;s not doing anything wrong. He#146;s not doing anything that anybody should shake their head at.
#147;It#146;s not even about him going out,#148; Burish said. #147;He doesn#146;t go out or doesn#146;t party or doesn#146;t do things more than anybody else does. It#146;s just that he does things under a microscope. He#146;s out having a beer somewhere, it#146;s news.
#147;He#146;s going to have fun, like anybody else does. He#146;s not out like Dennis Rodman or like some of these guys.#148;
Tip-in:Defenseman Nick Boynton has an upper-body injury, according to coach Joel Quenneville.