Are Hawks good enough to win it all?
With their play the last month, the Blackhawks didn’t just affect their trade-deadline day.
They messed up the entire Western Conference.
First, they allowed Sam Gagner to collect 8 points, at which point the Oilers took Gagner off the market.
Over the weekend, Dustin Brown netted a hat trick against the Hawks and suddenly he was off the board.
And Sunday when Anaheim took down the Hawks, they went from probable sellers to standing pat and trying to make another improbable run at the postseason.
Of course, the Hawks also went from serious buyers to cautious bystanders as they came to the realization that perhaps a Stanley Cup run this spring is unrealistic based on how they’ve played since the beginning of February.
GM Stan Bowman got involved Monday when he picked up mobile defensemen Johnny Oduya, who moves right into their top four and takes some pressure off youngsters Nick Leddy and Dylan Olsen.
The 30-year-old Oduya is unrestricted at the end of the season, but he helps as a rental, and the Hawks paid a price with second- and third-round picks in 2013.
How much he helps them in their own end remains to be seen. He’s generally responsible with the puck, and that’s been the biggest Hawks problem this season, as they’ve allowed more goals than any team in the West except Columbus, and more than any club in the NHL considered a genuine Cup contender.
So the Hawks had to wonder if it was worth moving long-term assets for a short-term goal if they really can’t compete for the big prize.
A couple of large acquisitions probably wouldn’t have put them over the top because they would have had to surrender something big from their core, and it appears they’ve chosen to go as far as they can with what they’ve got and wait for the kids to arrive.
The good news is the Hawks are loaded with prospects. The bad news is they don’t appear to be in the same class as the class of the West this season.
The winners
Nashville added depth up front — Andrei Kostitsyn and Paul Gaustad — and size on defense with Hal Gill, while Vancouver got bigger, meaner and tougher with Zack Kassian and added a power-play specialist in defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani.
The Canucks gave up a lot in trading Cody Hodgson, but the addition of Kassian says Vancouver is looking ahead to a Stanley Cup Finals matchup with rough customers like Boston or New York.
Now, the Canucks just have to get there again.
The center
Many teams, including the Hawks, looked at centers like Derek Roy from Buffalo, but no one was willing to part with a No. 1 pick and an established player for Roy.
John Scott
Go ahead and laugh, but John Scott provided a physical presence the Hawks no longer possess after his trade to New York, so look for teams to take advantage of the Hawks’ skill players — again — with Scott gone from the lineup.
Red carpet
Working for the Dodgers has been misery the last couple of years, but sometimes it has its perks.
Los Angeles GM Ned Colletti attended the Oscars on Sunday night with Academy president Tom Sherak, who has worked closely with Colletti the last few years on several charity events.
Colletti could be seen on the broadcast sitting very close to the front and only two rows behind Best Actress nominee Michelle Williams.
The good cause
You can see a hockey game for $10 when the Chicago Police Department faces off against the Chicago FBI in the “Law Enforcement Hockey Classic’’ on March 10 at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
The fundraiser benefits Honor Flight Chicago, whose mission it is to thank veterans — especially World War II veterans — by bringing them to Washington at no cost to them for a day of honor.
Since its inception four years ago, Honor Flight Chicago has flown nearly 3,000 vets to Washington, and there are about 1,000 more waiting to take the trip of a lifetime.
To purchase $10 tickets before Thursday, visit honorflightchicago.com, or pay $20 at the door.
Deep bench
CBS’ David Letterman: “Reese Witherspoon is in Florida at spring training. The Yankees are taking a look at her as a possible Alex Rodriguez girlfriend.”
Battle joined
Miami Herald’s Greg Cote: “Navy is joining the Big East in college football, and the impact already is being felt. Fighters from an aircraft carrier have attacked Rutgers, and a team of SEALS has infiltrated Pitt.”
Best tweet
From @TheFakeESPN: “The Bucs have released Albert Haynesworth and are asking if anyone knows where he is, to please wake him up and let him know.”
And finally …
Omaha World-Herald’s Brad Dickson: “The Yankees organization unveiled the ‘N.Y. Yankees cologne.’ It costs $37 million for four years.”
ŸListen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score#146;s #147;Hit and Run#148; show at WSCR 670-AM, and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.