Hawks in search of top defenseman

The shopping season is well under way, and the Blackhawks are searching for a big-ticket item that's going to cost them plenty:

A top-two defenseman.

Just the fact that they're working the phones tells you they believe they're in the playoff hunt to stay, which is a monumental change in philosophy.

But they probably know they can't hang around all year without adding a strong veteran presence who's going to swallow up critical minutes.

You could suggest it's a bit early to make such a call, since a five-game losing streak any time in the next month could knock any team in the middle of the pack to the bottom tier faster than you can say Dennis Cyr.

On the other hand, it's an encouraging message to fans that the Hawks aren't going to sit on their hands while other teams start to make moves.

True, the Hawks are young and have yet to hit the wall that many expect them to find in the next month or two, but in the meantime it's a nice change to be thinking about the postseason when this time of year the Hawks usually are getting fitted for a new set of irons.

The downside is the Hawks probably will have to give up a top prospect or two in order to secure a top-notch defenseman, and in past years they've been reluctant to give up many of their young players.

Some they have traded have made substantial contributions elsewhere, a reminder that evaluating your own players is just as important as those you acquire.

The one benefit to being so bad the last 10 years is that the Hawks have a logjam of players on the verge of making it to the NHL, which is the way it's supposed to work if you consistently pick high in the draft.

The difficult part is that you can't keep every one of those players because the kids need to play, and when they're ready for the NHL, they need to play here.

That brings you back to being able to evaluate your own talent, and that's where it can be tricky and a bit scary.

If you wait too long and they're not NHL players, you expose them for what they are and they're devalued, which might be the case with Cam Barker, the 2004 No. 3 overall pick. The Hawks used to sell him as the next Denis Potvin, but now they're just hoping he has an NHL career.

Nevertheless, having a surplus of good, young players is a good problem to have.

As is pondering playoff possibilities.

Credit check

The Hawks are once again fortunate to have an excellent minor-league coach developing players and getting them ready for the NHL.

Following in the footsteps of Trent Yawney, who placed many a player in the NHL, Rockford coach Mike Haviland is continuing the process. The Hawks lean on Haviland in many ways, including helping an inexperienced Hawks staff run its first NHL training camp.

Haviland also finished the project with Dustin Byfuglien that Yawney started, and Haviland brought him along to where he has been one of the Hawks' best defensemen since arriving in Chicago, piling up 9 points and 15 penalty minutes in 14 games.

Kind of makes you wonder if it's wise to mess with him at wing, but that's also a function of the logjam at the bottom end of the defensive corps.

Seam stress

First, Torii Hunter bolts for the Angels, and then the Tigers steal Miguel Cabrera out from under the White Sox' nose, and take Dontrelle Willis from Florida and place him in the AL Central for good measure.

Wouldn't have wanted to be near Kenny Williams when he heard that one, because right now -- barring further and stunning developments -- this week can only be labeled a disaster for the Sox.

The forecast

The Bears have no choice but to win Thursday in Washington, and not just because the Redskins are terrible.

Ever since the debacle in Detroit on Sept. 30, the Bears have been very predictable after defeats, showing humility and an increased focus on their assignments.

And after each victory, their legendary arrogance returns and they forget to stay in their lanes, make tackles, pick up blitzes and throw to the correct uniform.

Coming off an ugly defeat, they'll collect an ugly victory Thursday … and then brace for a Monday nighter in Minny.

Bearing down

Mike Ditka to ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike in the Morning,'' on the Bears' failure Sunday: "They had a game they could have won, but we see this all the time in the NFL. There's teams that just can't finish.''

Just asking

What will you remember most about the Omar Infante era in Chicago?

Prior restraint

E-mailer Mr. Buttermaker: "Now that John McDonough has moved from the Cubs to the Hawks, any truth to the rumor that Martin Havlat started throwing a towel to heal his injured shoulder?''

Good point

Comedian Alex Kaseberg: "We have GPS that can track any inch on Earth in a split second, and the NFL is using two sticks and a chain to measure first downs? Why not replace the scoreboard with an abacus?''

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Hunter mocks slain deer with celebratory dance.''

And finally …

Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times, on a Florida woman charged with embezzling $79,000 from a youth soccer group: "Hopes for a quick out-of-court settlement were dashed, however, when prosecutors refused to let her pay it back in juice boxes and orange slices."