NHL Trade Deadline: Stan Bowman's Moves Window Dressing for Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks' GM Stan Bowman needed to get his house in order and had the cash on hand to do so. Instead, Bowman swept out his basement and picked up a new set of drapes.

The high impact defender and top-six center needs (which cap space was supposedly cleared for) were not obtained. Bowman talked big over the summer concerning his ability to improve the Blackhawks if need be. When push came to shove, Bowman merely rearranged the furniture.

Bowman put on a brave face, as he addressed the media, but the underlying message is clear. If the Blackhawks are to get their act together, it will have to be with most of the same pieces already lying around the United Center.

Bowman watched as several conference teams, most notably Los Angeles and Nashville, made the attempt to improve themselves for the push to the playoffs, as the deadline loomed. Not wanting to leave the party empty-handed, he made a pair of transactions that smacked of an office drone trying to look busy as his boss walks by.

Let's dissect both of Bowman's dead-end, uh...I mean deadline deals.

Deal One: Johnny Oduya in Exchange for Chicago's 2nd and 3rd Picks in 2013

Oduya has two goals and 11 assists this year and is carrying a minus-nine skater rating in 63 games with the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old was a player the 'Hawks had been inquiring about, though he is in no way, shape or form the top-four defenseman they really needed.

Oduya is very nimble on his skates and should be able to play a regular shift on Chicago's third pairing. Like last year's Plan B, Chris Campoli, Oduya is a solid third line type who doesn't do anything really well and isn't much of a banger (despite the above photo).

He should be sound defensively and can play big minutes if needed. He's also been around the block, which may lead to him adding some consistency to the blue line. If Joel Quenneville has the confidence in Oduya that he lacks in Sami Lepisto, the void left by Steve Montador's injury could be filled competently.

Campoli was more than serviceable for the Blackhawks last spring. Oduya could serve the 'Hawks in a similar capacity. For two high future draft picks, however, the price seems steep considering Bowman came up well short of his target.

Deal Two: John Scott to the Rangers for a 5th Round Pick in 2012

Bowman's final move of the afternoon was an addition by subtraction. Before I give my assessment, however, allow me a few words about a player I've hammered on a regular basis.

Whatever John Scott did or did not possess as a hockey player, I liked the guy's attitude and never could point to a lack of effort in the way he went about his business. Scott played his four to five minutes a night the best he could—whether it was as a towering, plodding forward or a towering, plodding defenseman.

It sends a brief shiver down my spine to think about the Murdersaurus taking the ice for the same team his buddy Derek Boogard toiled for just a year ago. The guy has a wife and a baby girl and was a fun guy to watch when Quenneville wasn't misusing him so blatantly. I wish him the best of luck.

That said, Scott's departure should allow the 'Hawks to roll out a full lineup every night.

The fact that Bowman managed to get a fifth-round selection for Scott's five minutes a game offsets the inflated price he paid for Oduya. Getting back a pick for a player you signed as a free agent is always a plus.

Chicago loses something in the fisticuffs department, as Scott was pretty active in the final days of his tenure with the Blackhawks. Scott was also the team's player representative and a popular guy in the locker room.

I guess we will now get the chance to see what life without Scott is like and exactly what he brought to the team.

Deadline Conclusion: Bowman's Fixes Were Cosmetic

With the 'Hawks defense saddled with injuries to Steve Montador and Niklas Hjalmarsson, and captain Jonathan Toews now on the injured list, adding a higher-end defenseman or forward could have helped in the last 18 games.

When the smoke cleared, the deficiencies up front are the same as they were last spring, as well as last summer. A center is needed on the second line. Bowman rolled the dice on getting that piece later instead of in the summer.

Unfortunately, it was Snake Eyes for Bowman. He couldn't make the deal he needed to, so he made some deals to create the impression of upgrading the roster.

In reality, Bowman was in a no-win situation. As much as he has opened himself for criticism, not doing anything would have brought howls throughout the fanbase.

All we can do is hope that Oduya can provide a spark to the struggling Blackhawks.