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A Whole Lot Of Something

August 12, 2014, 10:15 AM ET [279 Comments]
John Jaeckel
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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There are certain times of the year where the Blackhawk front office goes into full lockdown mode. And now is one of those times.

Very little if anything is seeping out as to how the Hawks will get under the salary cap by the start of the season.

I would tend to believe Eklund’s break the other day that the Hawks and the Islanders have been talking with Nick Leddy being involved. Doesn’t surprise me at all. In fact, I would bet the Hawks are talking to 15 teams and about more than one player.

As far as the Islanders, I would bet dollars to donuts, the Hawks have asked about power forward Matt Martin, who is almost exactly what the Hawks need more of. That said, Leddy for Martin straight up, as mentioned on my message board recently, would be an overpay by the Hawks. Martin+? Then there’s something to talk about.

I would wager the Hawks are talking with primarily Eastern Conference teams about Leddy, Johnny Oduya and/or Patrick Sharp. In fact, my sources have told me that they have been on and off all summer. Haven’t heard anything in a while, but that’s merely because the Hawks are not letting anything out.

You can likely bet that they are talking to anyone who will listen in either conference about Kris Versteeg and possibly Michal Rozsival.

Hawk GM Stan Bowman will make a deal. He has to, for starters. He has some valuable assets to deal as well. The smart way to play it is to talk to a lot of teams, and let other teams know it. That way, if a team is hot for a certain Chicago asset, the price might be driven up.

So let’s play a little Clue shall we?

Who get’s dealt where, for what?

I’ll go first. Johnny Oduya . . . in Calgary . . . for a good prospect and a 2nd round pick. Your move.


JJ
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