Could a Blackhawks-Hurricanes Deal Come Soon?

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The Chicago Blackhawks have upcoming salary cap issues, which have put them into a lot of trade rumors since this past summer. One of the teams that have consistently been linked with the Hawks is the Carolina Hurricanes, who are struggling to be competitive.

On Monday, TSN reported that the Hurricanes placed defenseman Aaron Ward on waivers. Bob McKenzie wrote that he expects Ward to clear waivers and that a team might have interest in him once he enters re-entry waivers; a team picking up a player on re-entry waivers splits the player's salary with his former team for the remainder of the season.

Ward, 36, has a $2.5 million cap number and a contract that expires after this season, which would make him a great rental and salary dump for the Hawks. So far this season, ward has only six points and a minus-15 rating, neither of which are very good for a player averaging nearly 18 minutes per game.

However, when you put Ward's minus-15 into the context that the best rating on the Canes is even lower, his plus-minus is as much a symptom of being on a miserable team as it is an indictment of Ward's play.

ESPN is reporting that the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers are also interested in Ward.