Chicago Blackhawks: 7 Trades They'd Like to Make Before the Deadline

Yes, the Hawks have looked good of late. With fresh faces such as Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes the Hawks have registered five points in their last six games.

Regardless of how they have been skating recently, they need help for the playoffs. The writing has been on the wall for a while now that the Hawks are in the hunt for a solid, top-six defenseman, a versatile center or perhaps a strong winger with a scoring touch.

Good players do not come cheap and Stan Bowman is going to have to be careful with who he puts on the block. Either way, something must be done. With the Western Conference bottle-necked the Hawks will most likely look to the Eastern Conference for a swap.

Here is a list of players they should pursue.

Pavel Kubina

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be looking to sell. Their season is in disarray and they may need to unload some players that do not fit into their futures plans.  

With Victor Hedman inking a contract extension earlier this season, unrestricted free-agent-to-be Pavel Kubina may be on the go.

With five points in his last five games, some size and physical strength, the Hawks should package a pick or a prospect for his services.

Paul Gaustad

With the Hawks liking the idea of Marcus Kruger as their second line center, Stan Bowman may be looking for another center, preferably in a shut down role.

The Hawks' Wednesday opponent, the Buffalo Sabres, have had a nightmare of a season. Something will need to change with their squad and that hopefully will include the trading of Paul Gaustad.

He is a solid two-way center that could be a veteran, fourth-line staple for the playoff run. He will be a free agent in June and with the Sabres playoff hopes flagging, Bowman should investigate.

Tim Gleason

Tim Gleason is the one 'stay at home' defenseman that is on every NHL team's radar screen. 

Tim Gleason could fit in on just about any roster, but that is no reason the Hawks should not be in on the sweepstakes.  

Gleason would be just what the doctor ordered. He would be a huge addition for a team that is having trouble keeping the puck out of the net.

Package Brandon Pirri, Jeremy Morin and second or third round pick for Gleason and the player on the next slide.

Tuomo Ruutu

Tuomo Ruutu is 28 years old and has pumped in 15 goals this season. The Hurricanes could be looking to move him as opposed to watching him walk as a free agent.  

A reunion with Ruutu in Chicago would be a huge help.

Andrei Kostitsyn

If the Hawks are seeking a scoring winger as has been suggested, Andrei Kostitsyn could be a good fit.

After trading Mike Cammalleri, it is clear the lowly Montreal Canadiens are selling. Kostitsyn may not be that expensive. The Hawks could dangle a pick and a player like Pirri or Morin to land him.

Although a free agent come summertime, if he works out, he may be someone the Hawks could keep around for a while.  

Hal Gill

If the Hawks wanted to get creative with the Habs, they could also go after the veteran Hal Gill.

Hal Gill has leadership skills and could be a key piece on the Hawks' blue-line.

If the Hawks were interested in Gill alone, it would not take much more than a decent prospect. If they up the ante to include Kostitsyn, then maybe they would be able to swap Morin, Bryan Bickell and a second-round pick for their services.

Mark Streit

The young Islanders have promise but there is not much doing for the 2011-12 season.

It would take a lot to land a player like Mark Streit. He is a versatile defenseman who can play both ends of the ice well. He is more fine-tuned than a Nick Leddy and would easily slide into the top four defensive pairings.

It may take as much as a first round pick, but with the many Hawk' prospects in the system, sacrificing this year's first pick for a player like Streit could be the right move.