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OK, I know why you’re here. So let’s start with rumors and thoughts first:
Spoke with a source late yesterday and it seems like trade talk has definitely heated up. Although the noticeable lack of movement since the lift of the holiday trade freeze should tell you something. Buyers still vastly outnumber sellers and prices are still very high.
One bit I heard yesterday had the Hawks talking to a non-contending team about a major superstar power forward. Their asking price:
Patrick Kane.
And no it was not Jarome Iginla, in whom I was also told yesterday the Hawks have no interest.
On a more realistic front, the Hawks apparently can get a deal done for a defenseman; the pieces, it sounds like, are in place. However, before pulling the trigger— and consistent with some quotes from Joel Quenneville—they want to see first what 2009 first round selection Dylan Olsen can do.
A couple of thoughts here.
First, the fact that the Hawks are asking around about top tier players indicates that they are prepared to offer more than, say, a handful of Might Not Ever Bes from Rockford, Bryan Bickell and an Old Style beer sign. While Kane is going nowhere, I would think a “core” player (like a Dave Bolland or possibly even Patrick Sharp) could be in play for a major return.
Before the Chelsea Dagger crowd goes off on the sacreligious suggestion of dealing Sharp, let me also say this. Sharp is merely an example here— of a top 'core" player not named Toews or Kane.
And I’m not saying definitively that the Hawks talked to the Blue Jackets about Rick Nash, or to the Ducks about Bobby Ryan. But if they did, you can’t plausibly do so without the possibility of a player like Sharp going the other way. Nor should it come as a surprise when the other team asks for a Patrick Kane (likely for starters) back.
So let’s also make something clear now and repeat it like a mantra from now until March 1: no team is out there waiting to give the Hawks great players in return for their organizational garbage. Even lots of organizational garbage.
And this is why a deal of this magnitude likely isn’t happening—at least not involving the Hawks. However, could a “core” piece be moved for the right return—especially if Olsen works out, Marcus Kruger returns healthy and/or Viktor Stalberg stays on a 20-goal pace? Yes, it appears so.
And those ready to package the underappreciated Niklas Hjalmarsson need to bear in mind that the Hawks are already thin on defense; and you aren’t getting a better defenseman back without giving up more in addition to #4.
So why do it?
As for Olsen, and as I blogged yesterday, his callup could be—maybe— a lightning in a bottle move not unlike the 2008-09 call up of Hjalmarsson, who went on to help the Hawks reach the WCF that year. The two players are similar in stature and style and about the same relative ages in their NHL debuts. If Olsen struggles (which is the more likely scenario), he goes back to Rockford and the Hawks pull the trigger on any of a large handful of available veteran blueliners who could help them.
Finally, Dan Carcillo.
It’s no secret. Twitter and various blogs are full of intimations that his knee is blown out. Add to that a seven-game suspension and the fact that the coaching staff likely won’t trust him much anymore, and he has likely played his last game in a hawk sweater. Or most certainly won’t for some time. This is likely why the Hawks called up Shaw, a pest’s pest who simply wins in most situations. He, like recent call-up Jimmy Hayes, has a chance to stick if he remembers and plays his role.
One final note: before frustrated rumor followers go off on my leaving names and teams out of certain disclosures, understand this: I am not trying to be deliberately coy, or just "throwing things against a wall." These are rumors. Take them as such. I don't put everything I hear in the blog. Only those coming from credible sources. And if I am vague, it is because I am trying to protect those sources. If I don't, they won't remain sources for long. If you can't wrap your head around that, tough. Try to have a nice day otherwise.
The next 4-6 weeks should be very interesting. On to the Flyers.
Blackhawks at Flyers
7PM Easterm/6 Central
CSN (Chicago and Philadelphia)/WGN Radio
RECORDS:
Hawks— 24-11-4
PP—15th PK—26th
Flyers— 22-11-4
PP— 11th PK—15th
PROJECTED LINEUPS:
Chicago
Sharp-Toews-Frolik
Stalberg-Kane-Hossa
Bickell-Bolland-Shaw
Brunette-Mayers-Hayes
Keith-Seabrook
Hjalmarsson-Leddy
O’Donnell-Olsen
Emery
Philadelphia
Hartnell-Giroux-Read
Talbot-Briere-Voracek
Van Riemsdyk-Schenn-Simmonds
Rinaldo-Couturier-Zolnierczyk
Timonen-Coburn
Bourdon-Carle
Lilja-Mezsaros
Bryzgalov
SCOUTING REPORT:
A lot of the Blackhawks’ good December juju has dissipated of late, after a humbling 4-3 home loss to the Oilers and a string of injuries to C Marcus Kruger, W Dan Carcillo and D Steve Montador.
Tonight, the Blackhawks try to steer the ship back on course against a very strong Eastern Conference team, and recent playoff nemesis, the Philadelphia Flyers.
Not only is this a rematch (of sorts) of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, it has some other interesting subplots. Two Hart Trophy candidates go head to head in Claude Giroux and Jonathan Toews. Ray Emery faces a former team. A third possible Hart candidate, Marian Hossa, moves back to the second line, with Patrick Kane, newly moved back to center. While the Flyers are banged up, too, without Chris Pronger, Jaromir Jagr and Blair Betts, the hawks will possibly ice three rookies—two in their first NHL games— in W Jimmy Hayes, C/W Andrew Shaw and D Dylan Olsen.
The Flyers, as evidenced by the recent Winter Classic, are a tough, physical and skilled team. A team that is built for the playoffs. And the kind of team that gives the Hawks, as currently composed, a lot of problems.
Back with a recap tomorrow.
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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