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I’m not sure if any NHL team has more players in Sunday’s Olympic Gold Medal game than the Blackhawks do with six. Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp skate for Canada, and Marcus Kruger, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya for Sweden.

Here's an interesting note on all this. Having six players in the final would seem to speak volumes as to the quality of the talent on the Hawk roster—well, it just does. But 5 of these 6 players (all except Oduya, and ruer has it Kruger was personally recommended by Scotty Bowman) were acquired when Dale Tallon was the GM, testament to his lasting imprint on this franchise.

It’s been an exciting tourney thus far, and the medals are shaping much as many had predicted, with these two perennial international hockey powers going for top honors, and Finland putting a beatdown on the U.S. for the bronze today.

Yes, I will do a mea culpa here and admit I had Slovakia pegged for the bronze. Oh well.

On the rumor front, this has been a quiet year thus far.

I did have a rumor earlier in the year as to the Hawks having conversations with the Jets about Andrew Ladd. While many dismissed this rumor, I find it funny that so many embrace the Evander Kane to Chicago rumors that crop up—while ladd is rumored to be on the block as well.

Ladd is more affordable and, while Kane is likely the better offensive player, Ladd provides a number of benefits the Hawks presently could use more of, toughness, size upfront, penalty killing, veteran leadership.

Another rumor floating out there is the Hawks’ interest in one Jaromir Jagr. All I will say on this is a I had it from a very good source last year, the Hawks made a pretty strong run at Jagr at the trade deadline before Dallas dealt him to Boston.

Bottom line, I would expect to see the Hawks (at minimum) add some veteran size and grit at forward before the trade deadline.

Everyone enjoy what should be a great game tomorrow morning.

All for now,


JJ

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