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The asking price of new Vancouver GM Jim Benning for Ryan Kesler is so high, and higher still apparently for Chicago, that the Hawks are politely bowing out, I’m told.

I’ve heard from two sources in the last 24 hours that the Hawks continue talking to mainly Eastern Conference teams about forwards. So add Ottawa and Tampa Bay to a list that has already included Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.

I am not at liberty to discuss the player being looked at in Tampa. But I have heard of many conversations between Scotty Bowman and his former star player (now Tampa GM) Steve Yzerman over the last couple of years. And they apparently have talked about a specific forward recently, who would solve a gaping need on the Hawk roster.

In Ottawa, the Hawks have liked C/W Zack Smith in the past, and they like him now. Also add W/C Colin Greening to that list (somewhere in Canada, Greening’s fellow Newfoundlander, Dr. Mike Hart, is pleased at this news). Greening is especially interesting as he has the size/speed combination the Hawks have been lacking, and the ability to play a complementary role with more skilled forwards—something Troy Brouwer did well in Chicago.

I’m also told interest in Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya remains high.

More as I have it,


JJ

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