Hawks still can’t pull trigger on trade
It would be OK with the Blackhawks if the Blue Jackets wanted to go ahead and trade Rick Nash before Saturday’s noon faceoff at Nationwide Arena.
By making Nash available, the Blue Jackets have added to the interest and intrigue approaching the NHL’s Feb. 27 trade deadline.
Action appears to be picking up, although not with the Blackhawks, who watched another available defenseman go off the board on Friday when Montreal traded veteran Hal Gill to Nashville for two prospects, including Blake Geoffrion, and a second-round draft pick.
On Thursday, Dallas traded defenseman Nicklas Grossman to Philadelphia for a second-round pick in 2012 and a third-rounder in 2013.
It’s believed the Hawks were interested in both Gill and Grossman, as well as Anaheim’s Francois Beauchemin and Carolina’s Tim Gleason, both of whom went off the market after signing contract extensions.
Hawks general manager Stan Bowman remains focused on adding at least one defenseman before the deadline and there is heavy speculation around the league that Tampa Bay’s Pavel Kubina is a prime target.
The 6-foot-4, 258-pound Kubina is going to be traded, and likely soon. Lightning GM Steve Yzerman said Kubina, who has a limited no-movement clause, won’t play in any more games and has asked the defenseman for a list of five teams to whom he would approve a trade
Hawks senior advisor Scotty Bowman could be a key here based on his relationship with Yzerman and the fact he lives in Florida and attends nearly every Lightning home game.
Even though Kubina will be an unrestricted free agent in July and is considered a rental player, the asking price is sure to be high, possibly a second-round draft pick and a player or prospect.
Four prospects the Hawks would be reluctant to trade are winger Brandon Saad — their top prospect — defenseman Dylan Olsen and centers Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault.
In fact, ESPNChicago.com reported Bowman turned down the Stars when they asked for Saad for Grossman.
The Hawks think so much of Saad that Bowman has said there’s a chance he could be on the NHL roster again late this season when his Saginaw junior team completes its season.
Kubina is not the only defenseman available. There’s also Chris Campoli in Montreal, Bryan Allen and Jaroslav Spacek in Carolina, Jeff Schultz in Washington, Mark Eaton with the Islanders and possibly Luke Schenn in Toronto.
Others could become available this week.
Adding another center or left wing is not out of the question for the Hawks.
It still might come down to the last minute on Feb. 27 for a lot of deals to go down after the so-called “sellers” give it one more week to determine if they have a realistic chance to make the playoffs.
Buffalo appears ready to shift into the “selling” mode after its 7-2 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday left the Sabres 10 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Hawks could have an interest in Sabres centers Derek Roy and Paul Gaustad as well as Canadiens left wing Travis Moen, Hurricanes winger Tuomo Ruutu and Stars forward Adam Burish.
Hayes up, Shaw down:Andrew Shaw admitted this week that he had hit a wall after more than a month in the NHL.The Hawks agreed Friday and sent the rookie winger to Rockford, recalling fellow rookie winger Jimmy Hayes.Shaw had 5 goals and 4 assists in 19 games with 18 penalty minutes, but he was minus-8 in his last seven games with 2 assists. He played only 5:08 and was minus-2 in Thursday#146;s win over the Rangers.#147;He had a great start,#148; coach Joel Quenneville said Friday. #147;That consistency is something, as young kids, over time you see that. That#146;s part of the learning process.#148;Ÿ Quenneville said injured defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (upper body) has made progress and could return to the lineup next week.tsassone@dailyherald.comHKNFILE15012618Pavel Kubina HKNFILE