Can the Chicago Blackhawks Build Upon Their 2009 Revival Season?

(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

Acquiring Sammy Pahlsson at the deadline gave the Blackhawks another strong defensive-minded center, but the need remains for a scoring-minded player to center a line with talented wings like Versteeg, Havlat, and Patrick Sharp.

Free agent Mike Cammalleri would be the ideal fit, but his salary demands and the Blackhawks' already-tight cap situation dictates that possibility unlikely. In an even higher tax bracket comes Henrik Sedin (with his twin Daniel also along for the ride), but signing the Sedins means not being able to afford Toews or Kane (and probably Keith).

A more realistic scenario comes in a trade, with young players like Barker and prospects like Jack Skille and goalies Corey Crawford or Antti Niemi potential options (along with draft picks) to acquire a Jason Spezza (whom Ottawa reportedly became disillusioned with during a tough season) or Brad Richards.

However it happens, the Blackhawks ideally acquire a center that balances the lines and allows Toews and Kane to remain paired on the same line whenever possible. While many teams would gladly take Dave Bolland as their second-line center, to compete with the Detroits and the Pittsburghs of the world the Blackhawks need to match their firepower with multiple potent scoring lines.

How Can or Will This Happen?

Once a decision is made with Havlat, the picture will become clearer regarding cap flexibility and potential needs to fill. Re-signing Havlat does not address the need at center, but it will allow the Blackhawks to focus on that need without having to worry replacing a top scorer that fortifies their strength on the wings.

Retaining Havlat and acquiring a high-profile center would add a lot of new salary, but it also gives the team depth to possibly let a younger free agent walk. Also, a trade for a center could send possibly send salary (ideally Campbell’s salary) to the other team, especially a team looking to make a lateral move and not just a salary dump.

Along with those potential moves, Tallon will have to make the tough decisions on deciding which young players will be signed, which young players may have to be let go, and which young players can be traded away. My view is that Barker and Kane are luxuries, while Versteeg, Toews, and Keith need to be retained.

Stan Bowman (son of legendary coach Scotty Bowman), the man in charge of the Blackhawks' salary cap, has a daunting task ahead of him figuring how to work things out. For the Blackhawks to remain competitive with and eventually overtake the Red Wings (who have already locked up key guys Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Johan Franzen or the long term), Bowman and Tallon must find a way to negotiate the cap while adding to a talented core that still clearly falls short of Detroit.

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