Rozner: Good week for Chicago Blackhawks' Bowman
In the minutes leading up to the trade deadline Monday, rumors were flying that the Chicago Blackhawks and Stars were still in on Vancouver defenseman Dan Hamhuis.
Turns out neither got what would have been a crucial piece for the postseason.
The Hawks needed a No. 4 defenseman and Hamhuis would have been a perfect fit as a rental, but apparently the Canucks' asking price was just too high.
Nevertheless, Hawks GM Stan Bowman had a very good week.
He picked up the most coveted wing on the market in Andrew Ladd, who fits nicely on the first line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, and allows Andrew Shaw to move into a more suited role as a wing on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Andrew Desjardins.
The Hawks had far too many fourth-line players getting significant minutes, and they've been replaced by Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann, who should be skating with Teuvo Teravainen on the third line.
The Hawks got heavier with Ladd and Weise - both led their teams in hits - and that will be important come playoff time, especially knowing the Hawks will have to get past Anaheim or Los Angeles in the conference finals.
Both of those teams were quiet Monday, with the Ducks getting forwards Jamie McGinn and Brandon Pirri - while sending Pat Maroon to Edmonton - and the Kings acquiring Kris Versteeg on Sunday.
Los Angeles made its move back in early January when Vinny Lecavalier and Luke Schenn were brought in from Philadelphia, and Anaheim made one of the trades of the year on Jan. 16 when the Ducks got David Perron from Pittsburgh for Carl Hagelin.
Both players were underperforming and both have been terrific since the deal. Perron had 16 points in 43 games for the Penguins, and now has 16 points in 18 games for Anaheim. Hagelin had 12 points in 43 games in Anaheim and has 10 points in 17 games for Pittsburgh.
The Ducks have also been very happy with the play of Ryan Garbutt, acquired from the Hawks for Jiri Sekac on Jan. 21.
After a horrific start to the season, Anaheim has been the best team in the NHL since Christmas, going 12-1-1 in February and the Ducks won their eighth straight Sunday night with a 4-2 win over Los Angeles.
So if any of this sounds familiar, it should. The Hawks are favored to get out of the West, but they'll have a brutal series with Anaheim or Los Angeles before they can take a shot at their fourth Stanley Cup in seven years.
Joel Quenneville called it the "test of our lives" when the Hawks survived seven games with the Ducks last year, coming back from series deficits of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, winning in triple-overtime down 1-0 on the road and double-overtime down 2-1 at home.
The Hawks lost in overtime of the seventh game at home against Los Angeles in 2014 and beat the Kings in five games in 2013.
But another trade deadline has come and gone, and it was a good week for Bowman that could have been great if the Hawks had come to terms with Vancouver on Hamhuis, but they'll have to hope one of their depth defensemen can get the job done playing among the top four.
As for Bowman sending a message to his team that the Hawks are going for it in 2016, it's an absurd narrative. The Hawks go for it every year. They're built to win today and for several years to come, and with every deadline Bowman tries to add to the core.
"It's not about a message," Bowman said. "We want to give them every opportunity to win. We're always trying to enhance that and when you have a chance to, you have to do that."
So here we go again. Fasten your seat belts.
brozner@dailyherald.com
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