Florida Panthers (26-21-12) at Chicago Blackhawks (36-20-5) 8:30PM Eastern/7:30 Central CSN Chicago/Fox Sports FL
THE BUZZ
If ever there was a time the Hawks needed to have a good game (and win) it’s tonight, versus former GM Dale Tallon’s Florida Panthers. Since leaving Chicago last year, former Hawk forward Jimmy Hayes has become a presence around opponent’s nets—and the Hawks, evidenced by a Human Turnstile Act on Sunday versus Boston, need to be prepared to win battles around Scott Darling tonight. To that end, Johnny Oduya is out, injured, for a few weeks—and an improvised blueline must step it up.
A late rumor hit my inbox this morning that has the Hawks talking to Columbus about James Wisniewski (possibly for Patrick Sharp). Is it valid? Dunno. The source is a new one but has had some good information to date.
Does it make sense?
I like Wiz, but he is definitely a big personality, on and off the ice. Does he fit the Hawks needs right now? Personally, I think he could be a tonic for what ails this team. I posted a blog a couple of years ago—when the Hawks were in a similar slump—urging Stan Bowman to bring Wiz back to Chicago. Wiz is a little like Dustin Byfuglien in terms of his dressing room presence. Loose, loud (louder than Byfuglien), cocky. His game fits the Hawks’ style (for the most part), even though he has some weaknesses in coverage in his own zone. Power play? A big right-handed shot. Physical, pretty fearless. Yeah, I could see Wiz back in the Indianhead right now. Would I deal Sharp for him? Hard to say. It’s a major move. The dollars match pretty much cap-wise. Again, I have no idea if there is a shred of validity to this rumor. Just interesting to ponder right now.
THE LINEUPS (PROJECTED)
Florida
Jokinen Bjugstad Hayes Huberdeau Barkov Boyes Fleischmann Trocheck Upshall Kopecky MacKenzie Thornton
Campbell Ekblad Kulikov Gudbranson Kampfer Petrovic
Luongo
Chicago
Saad Toews Hossa Sharp Richards Kane Bickell Shaw Versteeg Nordstrom Kruger Smith
Keith Rundblad Hjalmarsson Seabrook Cumiskey Rozsival
Darling
All for now,
JJ
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