Nikolai Khabibulin's Trade Winds Die Down

On June 16, the Ottawa Sun reported a huge three-way trade between the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, and the Ottawa Senators. The parameters of the deal were as follows:

Ottawa receives: G Nikolai Khabibulin and D Cam Barker or Brent Seabrook

Chicago receives: C Anze Kopitar

Los Angeles receives: G Martin Gerber and D Andrej Meszaros

When I first read this article, I thought to myself, "Wow, the Blackhawks are making out like bandits if they can move Khabibulin and Barker to get a stud like Anze Kopitar." But after the initial amazement, I realized this deal would make no sense!

First, if Los Angeles trades their best player in Anze Kopitar, no one would show up to Kings games. The Kings would be an even worse team than they are now if this deal were to go through.

Second, the "or Brent Seabrook" part of the deal scares me. Even after a disappointing season, Brent has a ton of upside. If he were dealt, I would fear he would turn into a Hawk killer.

I believe for this deal to work for all involved the Kings would need to substitute winger Alexander Frolov for Kopitar and the Blackhawks would need to make sure that Brent Seabrook is not part of the deal.

As of right now a trade does not seem imminent—but as the offseason continues, the Khabibulin trade winds will begin to pick up again.

Chicago Blackhawks News and Notes

The Chicago Blackhawks traded C Martin St. Pierre to the Boston Bruins for C Pascal Pelletier. Pelletier spent the majority of last year in the AHL, where he led the Providence Bruins with a career-high 37 goals and 75 points in 73 regular-season games.

The Chicago Blackhawks also re-signed "goalie of the future" Corey Crawford to a one-year contract.

The Chicago Blackhawks named Mike Haviland as an assistant coach on Denis Savard’s staff. Haviland joins the Blackhawks after spending the last three years as the head coach of the organization’s affiliates in Norfolk (2005-07) and Rockford (2007-08).