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“The Hawks will have a new 2C next season”
This is what a top source told me a week or so ago. And when you examine the trade and free agent market this summer, it’s not hard to see this coming to fruition.
For all the talk about Andrew Shaw being the answer there, the Hawks, I’m told, know how badly beaten they were at center by the Kings. Shaw is probably better at wing, and with Michal Handzus likely retiring, that leaves the Hawks with really only two true centers: Jonathan Toews and Marcus Kruger.
And this kind of pre-emptive public praise of ‘the guys we have” is typical of the Hawks leading up to every offseason and every trade deadline. It is playing poker with other GMs—not looing desperate to make a deal—and provides political cover if they fail to make a deal.
If ever there was on offseason to go out and get a good, maybe not great, center to anchor a second line in the NHL, it could be this year.
The following names are either definitely, or likely available:
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver (even though the Hawks, for now at least, are probably out of the bidding)
Jason Spezza, Ottawa
Tomas Plekanec, Montreal
Mikhail Grabovski, Washington
Joe Thornton, San Jose
Brad Richards, NYR
Also add in a name like Franz Nielsen of the Islanders who might be sacrificed as part of the larger rebuilding effort there.
And I’m told there is at least one fairly major name the Hawks have inquired about under the radar.
Armchair GMs and those in the Hawk fanbase who take it on themselves every year to save Rocky Wirtz money, can find reasons to criticize every one of the above players.
In truth, every one is probably a better solution at 2C than Handzus was or Shaw would be.
At the end of the day, Hawk pro scouts—who have done a nice job the last few years—along with Scotty Bowman and Joel Quenneville will make the call on who would fit the role, giving Toews and Kruger (possibly) some relief in all situations, and setting up Patrick Kane and possibly Brandon Saad.
None of the above players would come cheaply. Those who would be acquired in trade would likely call for Patrick Sharp and/or Nick Leddy in return. Prospects and picks could be packaged on both sides as well.
Free agents like Grabovski (a possible Plan B, failing getting one of the top options) or Richards would command a fiar amount of cap commitment.
But although the market is relatively full of centers this summer, typically, it isn’t. Quality centermen are tough to come by. For proof, look no further than . . . the Chicago Blackhawks, who have been auditioning #2 centers since the days that Robert Lang wore the Indianhead.
Yes, him.
Centers need to see the ice and approach the offensive zone differently than wings. Faceoff skills are a big bonus. And they need to have more specific, consistent defensive responsibility over 200 feet of ice than wings do.
It is easier to migrate to wing as a natural center than it is for a wing to move to the middle.
If the Hawks want to (finally) solve their weakness in the middle, this is the summer to do it.
RUMOR UPDATE
Add the Carolina Hurricanes to the list of Eastern Conference teams talking trade with the Hawks.
All for now,
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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