PHILADELPHIA -- Chicago Blackhawks general manger Stan Bowman is always looking at the potential trade landscape, and wouldnt mind adding a solid defenseman or center.
Only thing is, he wont be alone in that.
Bowman and the Blackhawks have a pretty little bundle of salary-cap cash to use if or when they decide to add pieces to this team. Bowman said hes been watching the landscape for a while, but hes willing to wait for the right move.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
And defenseman and center are at the top of the wish list.
I think you can never have enough defensemen. I think last year Vancouver used 10 or 11? Up front, I think you can make the same argument for a centerman, Bowman said. But if you talk to the other GMs, and Ive talked to a lot recently, theyre looking for center and defense as well. Those are the positions most in demand. Were probably not unique that way.
Bowman said right now it was hard to say if the Blackhawks could pull off a big deal.
All we can do is keep in touch with (teams), and if theyre ready to start making trades, well talk and see if theres a fit there, he said. You cant force them. We talk and we let them know the players we like. When we get around to it, we keep on top of it. But it takes two to tango.
News
The Blackhawks can afford to wait. They entered Thursday nights game in Philadelphia second in the Western Conference, one point behind the Vancouver Canucks. They enjoyed health through most of this season, with injuries just cropping up recently (Steve Montador and Marcus Kruger are on injured reserve, and Daniel Carcillo may face rehab or surgery for his injury).
But while Bowman mulls potential moves, he and the Blackhawks have taken advantage of their deep resources in Rockford. Several IceHogs have had opportunities with the big club this season, and forwards Jimmy Hayes and Andrew Shaw along with defenseman Dylan Olsen are getting theirs now. Hayes has two goals in as many games, while Shaw scored his first-career NHL goal Thursday in Philadelphia.
If nothing else, its a good audition for those young guys.
They never know if theyre going to get another game, so theyll try to put their best foot forward. Its exciting for them. Its their dream to play in the NHL, Bowman said. It gives us a good opportunity to see how these players are progressing. We can assess where theyre at and go from there.