Five Thoughts on Chicago Blackhawks

With the NHL trade deadline arriving at 2 p.m. Monday, it's time for Five Thoughts:

1. A bit harsh?

If you didn't see the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-2 loss at Columbus on Saturday, you may not know about one of the major story lines that developed - the in-game benching of Ryan Hartman.

Here's what happened: With the Hawks leading 1-0 late in the first period, Vinnie Hinostroza and David Kampf raced out of the Hawks' defensive zone and had a chance at a 2-on-1 rush. Just before Hinostroza reached center ice, however, Hartman flipped his stick up and caught Lukas Sedlak in the face.

That sent Hartman to the penalty box for a high-sticking penalty, and 37 seconds later, Columbus cashed in on the ensuing power play to tie the game.

Hartman, who helped give the Hawks the lead 88 seconds into the game when his shot deflected off Kampf and into the net, never saw the ice again.

"Absolutely," coach Joel Quenneville told reporters when asked if it was a teachable moment. "That's a play where we've got the puck, we're on a 2-on-1, and we're playing well."

Still, considering Hartman set up the first goal, you have to wonder if a one-period benching may have been more appropriate. Perhaps this is something that has been building over time?

It's a good question for Quenneville after the Hawks practice Monday at MB Ice Arena.

2. Awfully soft

In addition to a terrible goal drought, another big reason the Blackhawks have failed to pick up points of late is because their goaltenders are allowing too many soft goals. A perfect example came midway through the third period at Columbus when Josh Anderson's shot from a bad angle bounced off Anton Forsberg's right arm, hit the post and went into the net.

That gave the Blue Jackets a 3-2 lead, and the Hawks never got the equalizer.

"It was a tough one to give up there," Quenneville said.

Once again, Forsberg wasn't bad, but don't be surprised if J-F Berube - who made 42 saves in a 3-1 victory over San Jose on Friday - gets the net a bit more often down the stretch.

3. Cat scratch fever

Tomas Jurco scored his first goal this season after taking a pass from Patrick Kane and snapping a shot past Sergei Bobrovsky 9:20 into the second period Saturday.

Good for him.

But isn't it about time we see Alex DeBrincat playing with Kane and Artem Anisimov? Or with Kane and Nick Schmaltz?

It's possible Quenneville is trying to build DeBrincat's confidence by playing him against lower-tier defensemen - or that he fears such a combo could be a liability defensively.

But there's no way the Hawks are making the playoffs, so why not give this a trial run?

Let them build chemistry. Excite the heck out of Kane.

And make opponents squirm as they figure out how to defend what should be a lethal combination.

4. No market

Apparently, nobody wanted Lance Bouma, so the Blackhawks placed the winger on waivers Sunday. It was thought that Bouma might fetch a sixth- or seventh-round pick if a playoff team was looking to add some sandpaper, but apparently general manager Stan Bowman found no takers.

If a team doesn't claim Bouma, who has 3 goals, 6 assists and 132 hits in 53 games, he will be assigned to Rockford.

Either way, watch for the Hawks to call up the 6-foot-3, 223-pound John Hayden on Monday. Hayden, who was sent to Rockford on Jan. 8, has 5 goals and 9 assists in 19 games for the IceHogs.

5. Still here

Most of us believed Tommy Wingels was a lock to be traded to a contender, but he was still with the Hawks as of Sunday night. Wingels, who told me he played center about 2 percent of the time while with San Jose from 2011-17, was a big reason the Hawks' "energy line" was so effective early in the season.

Wingels is the kind of "glue player" that GMs love when they're looking to patch up a weak spot among the bottom-six forwards.

If Wingels is moved, it would be nice to see Tanner Kero get another shot.

Kero, who has one year left on his contract at a $750,000 cap hit, has 7 goals and 10 assists in 30 games with Rockford. Wingels' emergence was a big reason Kero was pushed out of the lineup and assigned to the IceHogs on Dec. 8.