As NHL trade deadline looms, sellers could come from the East

With the Blackhawks nearing the end of their bye week, this is a good time for another Q&A session.

Q: Which teams do you think will be sellers the next four weeks?

- Sandy Stavropoulos

A: The Western Conference standings are so tight most of the sellers might come from the East - the Rangers, Panthers, Flyers, Devils, Red Wings and Senators.

Here's the big question: What will Columbus do with unrestricted free agents Artemi Panarin and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky? Do the Blue Jackets - firmly ensconced in a playoff spot - go full steam ahead and attempt to win the Stanley Cup while risking losing both players in the offseason? Or do they trade one or both for assets down the road?

It's a difficult decision with no easy answer.

As for other big names who could be on the move, TSN lists Ottawa's Matt Duchene, Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds, Carolina's Micheal Ferland and the Rangers' Mats Zuccarello as the top four trade targets.

TSN also has St. Louis center Brayden Schenn and defenseman Colton Parayko in the top 16.

Q: The Hawks have moved Henri Jokiharju to the left side and he has made some uncharacteristic misplays. How often are defensemen moved to the other side and how successful are the moves? Or is a right defenseman usually always a right defenseman throughout his career?

- Scott Nease on FB

A: These moves aren't made very often, but when a player proves he can pull it off, it gives coaches so many more options. A right-shot defenseman is raised to play the right side because when he accepts a pass in his own zone, his stick isn't exposed to the center of the ice. He can then turn and advance the puck up the boards to a winger.

"It's always harder to make a strong play or make a direct pass with your backhand, versus having the stick on the wall to be able to make an easy forehand pass," said Hawks D-man Connor Murphy.

Now, there are positives to playing your off side, and they come when a player is attacking the offensive zone.

"When you get pucks on the offensive blue line or in the neutral zone, you tend to carry it on your forehand facing the whole ice," said Murphy, who shoots righty and was asked to play his off side for the first time last season. "So you've got the middle of the ice in front of you. You're able to survey the ice more and make a good play.

"And once you get it over the offensive blue line, you have a better angle to shoot on net versus if your stick side's on the wall. When it's on the wall, it's a sharper angle and less chance to get it through."

Murphy added it would be easier to flip back and forth if kids were taught both sides at a young age.

Q: When the roster limits are lifted after the trade deadline, who do you see the Hawks recalling from Rockford, if anybody?

- Colin Nicholson

A: The Hawks want their young players getting as much seasoning as possible, so I wouldn't expect a huge number of call-ups. They may, however, want to give players like forwards Anthony Louis and Dylan Sikura, and D-man Darren Raddysh a brief look.

They could also opt to sign a collegiate player like Evan Barratt (15 goals in 23 games for Penn) to an entry-level deal once his season is over.

Q: Where do you see Drake Caggiula eventually fitting in the lineup? While I like his game, I don't think he has the hands to play with Patrick Kane every night.

- @BeachandBHawks

A: I agree. He's very Andrew Shaw-like, though. A guy who can bounce around. As much junk as I gave Jeremy Colliton for his recent lines, they've been very effective. There's a purpose behind each one, and the bottom six played their best game against the Islanders Jan. 22.

I can see Caggiula, who was acquired from the Oilers for defenseman Brandon Manning, hanging around the top line for a while. On a true playoff team, though, he's a great third-line player who can move up to the second when needed; a 10- to 15-goals guy.

A fabulous trade by Stan Bowman. Bewildering move by Edmonton.