NHL Trade Rumors: Breaking Down the Hawks 5 Rumored Targets

Yesterday, Hockey Buzz's Eklund named five players the Hawks may be aggressively targeting in the very near future. With no win since mid-January, the Hawks are in desperate need of fresh blood that Rockford has proven unable to provide thus far.

A few of the names should be familiar to Hawks fans, as they seem interested in bringing back a few players of old.

The list has two forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. While acquiring all five of these players seems extremely unlikely, one or two could come in. Any of these players would improve the team, and with all coming from teams out of the race, their excitement of joining a contender could spark a Hawks run.

C/W Tuomo Ruutu, Carolina Hurricanes

Likely the crown jewel of the trade market—at least for those with expiring contracts—Tuomo Ruutu's name cannot seem to be separated from Hawks rumors this season.

It makes a lot of sense, though, the Hawks cannot seem to find a #2 center, and they desperately need a fire lit beneath them. Ruutu's skill and physical play would be nothing short of a revelation on the second line, which could possibly become Chicago's best line, with Ruutu likely lining up with Sharp and Hossa.

With just under $1.2 million remaining in cap hit for this season, Ruutu would slide in easily and likely have a massive impact. The key, of course is being able to pry him from Carolina. Odds are, he would cost some sort of conditional draft pick plus at least one top prospect (Brandon Pirri?), and perhaps a throw-in from this year's roster (bye-bye, Bicks).

Ruutu would be a great addition, and countless fans could get out their #15 jerseys once again.

W/C Adam Burish, Dallas Stars

As we continue our trip down memory lane, we find someone who would fill a completely different, yet equally needed, role on the Hawks, Adam Burish.

Easily considered a major component of the heart and soul of the Stanley Cup Champions, Patrick Sharp's old roommate would easily bring a new energy to the bottom six of the Hawk forward lines. Able to line up at all three forward positions, Burish provides energy and penalty killing abilities.

Grabbing him from Dallas shouldn't be much of a challenge. A bottom six player on an expiring deal with only a hair over $360k of a cap hit left, Burish shouldn't cost more than a mid-to-late draft pick, and/or a non-prospect like Simon Denis-Pepin.

D Chris Campoli, Montreal Canadiens

The last former Hawk here, Chris Campoli has had his name tied to Chicago again. Why is beyond me, as, if you'll recall, Campoli was the player that turned over the puck that lead to Vancouver's OT goal in Game Seven to end the run at defending the Cup last season.

Likely, Campoli would be asked to step in to the second pairing in Chicago with Niklas Hjalmarsson. His price won't be as high this time around, though I doubt Montreal will allow the conditional draft pick this time. An expiring contract (notice a theme here?) making just under $550k for the rest of the year, Campoli would fit easily within the Hawks' cap confines.

I see him coming for a combination of Shawn Lalonde and a mid-to-late round draft pick.

D Andy Sutton, Edmonton Oilers

A massive defenseman on a team going nowhere soon, Andy Sutton is next on the list, and provides a breath of fresh air from all the Hawks of the past.

Sutton is a bit of an odd fit, as he doesn't really provide anything the Hawks don't already have. He would enter the seemingly endless rotation of bottom three defensemen with Nick Leddy, Steve Montador, Sean O'Donnell and John Scott. I refuse to acknowledge Sami Lepisto's existence on this team as much as Quenneville does.

With less than $700k left on his contract, Sutton would slide right in on just about any depth chart, towards the bottom, that is. A late draft pick and fellow mammoth D-man, Simon Denis-Pepin could be a trade that fits both the Hawks' and Oilers' needs.

G Evgeni Nabokov, New York Islanders

The man most likely to have the greatest impact on the Hawks, Evgeni Nabokov would be a huge boost to this team.

Still a true No. 1, Nabokov could very realistically waive his No Movement Clause to join the Hawks. The least expensive of the Islanders' three goalies, Nabokov could still net a very solid return.

Nabby would come in and take the #1 goalie job from Crawford. While Crow is considered a member of the Hawks beloved core, whether he or Emery would be sent over for Nabokov is a bit of a wild card. A conditional draft pick seems a lock here as well, along with the possibility of Alex Salak.

Nabokov would step in and likely carry the Hawks, as he has posted better numbers than either Crawford or Emery with a vastly worse team in front of him. He still has plenty left in the tank, and the Hawks could be the team to offer him his shot at a Stanley Cup.