‘Hawks open for business: “We’re looking to improve our team through trades”
With the ‘Hawks sitting fourth in the Central Division, sixth in the Western Conference and 20th in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.82), Bowman made no bones about his team needing to improve — especially on defense.
“I think there’s room for improvement” Bowman said. “We’ve had a good first 50 games for our group. We’ve put ourselves in a decent position going forward.
“We’re looking to improve our team through trades, but as you can see, there’s not a lot happening on that front. A lot of talking, but I think it will speed up a little bit as we get closer to the deadline. But right now, it’s a wait-and-see approach, and trying to find answers from within.”
Blackhawks in the market for a defenseman and a veteran centerBlackhawks general manager Stan Bowman’s phone probably needs to be recharged three or four times a day.
With teams approaching the 50-game mark, trade talks are full-go. And Bowman is eager to enhance his 62-point team.
The Hawks have told teams what they’re seeking. A quality defenseman capable of playing on the second pairing is their top priority. The need for a veteran forward, preferably a center capable of being in the top six, is second.
Stan Bowman already has trade winds blowing for Blackhawks“It’s funny, I’ve talked to other GMs, just talking about your team, my team and how you’re playing. They say, ‘You guys must be doing great.’ I said, ‘Our secondary scoring has actually been down.’ And they all kind of laugh. They say, ‘Secondary scoring? You’ve got a lot of primary scoring. How much secondary scoring do you really need?’ I guess when you look at it from that perspective, I see their point. What I’m saying is that it balances out a little bit.”
Bowman and his staff, though, have been preparing to be active as the Feb. 27 trade deadline nears. He has the salary-cap space to do so.
If he could make moves that improved his team now, he would, but Bowman said others aren’t ready to trade, at least not the players the Hawks are keeping tabs on and envision being available.
Trade Sam Gagner to the Chicago Blackhawks? Are you nuts?Sam Gagner is hot as a pistol right now … finally.
Rumours have been spoken aloud by reporters and commentators who cover the NHL that the Chicago Blackhawks are interested in Oilers forward Sam Gagner.
This makes sense, given that Gagner’s now feeling better and is also playing better, much better. But it makes no sense for the Oilers to move Gagner, certainly not right now.
Hawks GM looking for defenseman If general manager Stan Bowman has his way, newcomer Michael Frolik won't be the only addition to the Blackhawks for the stretch run of the regular season.
Bowman said Friday he's working the phones in an effort to bolster the blue line after landing forward Frolik in a trade with the Panthers on Wednesday night.
Chicago GM Bowman shoots down Seabook trade rumorsThere's no truth to that at all. He's been dynamite for us here," Bowman told Sporting News. "We're trying to re-sign him."
Chicago fans have had to witness talent leaving town since the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup because of the salary cap, but Seabrook won¹t join the list.
New Look Hawks Aim For RepeatSuch is life in today's salary cap NHL.
You win the Stanley Cup, you dismantle your team.
That is what has happened for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Right after Patrick Kane scored the Stanley Cup winner in game 6, the process of reshaping the team was underway.
The main impact was the cap. Between the cap penalties, the albatross contracts and the raises due to some players, pretty much half the team was moved out of Chicago.
BLACKHAWKS WALK AWAY FROM NIEMI; SIGN TURCO TO ONE-YEAR DEALThe Chicago Blackhawks have walked away from the $2.75 million contract that was awarded to Antti Niemi in arbitration, which makes the Stanley Cup-winning goalie an unrestricted free agent.
Instead, the Blackhawks have signed veteran netminder Marty Turco to a one-year, $1.3 million contract.
The Aftermath In Chicago : An Alternative To The FiresaleWhat a difference a month makes. Four weeks ago, the Blackhawks were the most stacked team in the league, boasting elite talent in every position, and every role. Now, they have lost toughness from the bottom half of the roster in the form of Ben Eager and Adam Burrish. They've lost hard-nosed warriors and checking line heroes in John Madden and Andrew Ladd. They lost top six scoring in Kris Versteeg, and one of the better role-players in the West in Dustin Byfuglien. They even lost depth in the form of Colin Fraser, and Brent Sopel. And yet still, there is more loss to come
