Pahlsson skates as he gets back into playing shape

Sammy Pahlsson skated briefly Sunday morning at the United Center for the first time since Jan. 31, when he went out of the Anaheim Ducks lineup with mononucleosis.

"I'm getting on the ice now and pretty close to going 100 percent," said Pahlsson, acquired Wednesday at the trade deadline.

Pahlsson thinks he will need "just over a week, maybe a little more" to get back into playing shape.

"I haven't skated or worked out for a long time, so I have to get some strength back and do some skating and get used to being on the ice again," he said.

The Hawks acquired Pahlsson - in a deal that sent defenseman James Wisniewski to Anaheim - to be their third-line checking center, a role he understands and one in which he is considered to be very good.

"I try to play hard and always leave everything out there," Pahlsson said. "I try to be physical when it's time for it and finish my checks. I take pride in winning battles all over the ice. I try not to lose any battles.

"I know what I do good and I try to do it hard. I've done it for a long time. You have to know your job out there. If you're playing a shutdown role you can't really cheat if you're playing against the other team's top line. You have to be careful what you do and play hard."

Pahlsson wasn't sure if he would be traded at the deadline, but he was glad it turned out to be to the Hawks.

"It's always tough being traded, but I'm going to a good team in a good city," he said. "I've seen the team and played against them and I know they're really good - young, skilled, good guys. It's going to be fun."

Hawks doctors checked out Pahlsson on Saturday and gave him the OK to resume skating.

"Everything is good to go," general manager Dale Tallon said. "He's ready to get back to work and start helping us."

Easy does it: If veteran defenseman Brent Sopel returns from elbow surgery this season, it likely won't be until the playoffs because of salary-cap reasons.

There is no cap in the playoffs, which means the Hawks can take on Sopel's $2.5 million hit without clearing space.

"He's still recovering from his surgery, but that's a guy that has experience," Dale Tallon said. "To get through this battle, this war we're going to go through the next few months, you're going to need all the assets and all the bodies you can add.

"Hopefully he'll get back to 100 percent here by the time the playoffs come around, but obviously we have to attain that goal first, getting to the playoffs."

Let's make a deal: Martin Havlat's agent is coming to town Thursday for face-to-face contract talks with GM Dale Tallon.

"We'll meet and see if we can get something done," Tallon said. "We want him here and will do everything in our power to keep him."

Havlat suffered a lower-body injury in Sunday's 5-1 loss to Colorado and will be re-examined today.

Tip-ins: Defenseman Brian Campbell, minus-3 in Saturday's loss at Boston, was minus-3 again in Sunday's loss to the Avs. - The Hawks won 60 percent of the faceoffs from the Avs, with Jonathan Toews going 13-5. -

Rookie Niklas Hjalmarsson replaced Aaron Johnson on defense and was one of only four Hawks who weren't in the minus. - Pahlsson told reporters his first name should be spelled Sammy and not Sami because it's the preferred Swedish spelling.