Chicago Blackhawks: 8 Players They Should Be Eyeing at Trade Deadline

It is hard to believe that we are this close to the holiday season. Thus far, the Chicago Blackhawks are clearly amongst the NHL elite and could be in the mix for hockey's ultimate prize. 

Like any cup contender, the Hawks do have room for improvement. Bryan Bickell has become a liability on the third line, and though the Hawks are 6-1-1 with John Scott in the lineup, I'm not sure he is your sixth defenseman down the stretch.

Even with Sami Lepisto and Sean O'Donnell available, they could use another stay-at-home defenseman just as much as another strong forward.

Some teams such as the Phoenix Coyotes and others have gotten off to a quick start, yet may still find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time. Many teams will be looking to sell.

The Hawks may not need to make a big splash at the deadline, but here is a short list of players that they may want to pursue.

David Clarkson

While we do not know what the New Jersey Devils playoff picture will look like come season's end, they are a team in need of a change. They have an aging goaltender in Martin Brodeur as well as Zach Parise, both who will be up for free agency next summer.

David Clarkson is a player they have locked up for a couple more years with a $2.66 million cap hit. Clarkson is the kind of player the Hawks could use. He plays hard, gets to the net, can play the body and can scrap with anyone. For a team in need of a third-line winger with grit, he fits the mold.

Currently the Devils are teetering around the eighth and ninth seed in the Eastern Conference. If they find themselves in the same position after the new year, they may want to think about selling.

If that is the case, Clarkson is the kind of player on their roster that should interest the Hawks' brass. 

Shane Doan

Here we are again. Shane Doan's name coming up in trade talk with the Blackhawks. Some have commented, "Shane Doan is going nowhere." I'm not so sure that's accurate.

Yes, the Phoenix Coyotes are currently in playoff contention and coach Dave Tippett has them believing. At the same time, their schedule is only going to get tougher and they very well could be out of the money when the playoffs roll around.

The team is in financial distress, and with a pending sale, they may not have a ton of money for their payroll. Doan, Ray Whitney, Daymond Lankow, Martin Hanzal, Adrian Aucoin and Michal Rozsival are all free agents to be. The Coyotes cannot afford to keep them all around and Doan may be the one to command the most cash.

It's a good time for the Coyotes to get cheaper and younger and the Hawks have a lot to offer in those categories.

So the question is, why would he not be a person of interest for the Hawks? It may not even cost Stan Bowman too much to get Doan either. Whether or not you believe the Coyotes are going to seriously compete, continued conversations about Doan should be forthcoming. 

Antoine Vermette

There may not be a bigger disaster in the NHL this season than the Columbus Blue Jackets. During the offseason, they added two future cap problems with the acquisitions of James Wisniewski and Jeff Carter.

The results have been miserable and with a mere three wins this season, it is obvious that it is time for some changes.

While the Patrick Kane at center experiment is working, the Hawks will need to decide if that is permanent or if they want someone with more experience at the position.

If they decide to pursue another center, Antoine Vermette would be a good investment. He has not been as sharp this year, but nobody on Columbus has been.

It would surely be an investment as he carries a $3.75 million cap hit through 2014-2015. He has put up respectable numbers in the past, and the Hawks have talked of a need for a true second-line center for a while. 

If they are interested in just that, and the Blue Jackets would consider trading within the division, this could be a good one.

Hal Gill

The Montreal Canadiens cannot seem to sustain consistency this season. With a competitive Eastern Conference, it may be a tough road for them to stay in the picture.

The Habs are in dire need of a makeover on the blue line. They have four key defensemen who are to be unrestricted free agents at the end of this season.

If the Habs find themselves out of the playoff picture, which is possible, they will be willing to hear offers for Hal Gill. A defensive-minded defenseman, the Blackhawks should lick their chops at the idea of Gill filling in a role in the bottom six.

He can still play and would not command too steep of a price.

Anton Babchuk

This one-time Blackhawk is one of many players the Calgary Flames should be willing to deal before the deadline. Despite being in the league for a long time, Babchuk is only 27 years old and has some mileage left.

He still has a cannon of a shot and is an imposing defender. This move would be a little more of an investment than Gill, as Babchuk still has two years remaining on a $2.5 million deal. 

The Hawks do not have a core defenseman coming up for contract until the end of the 2012-2013 season. A move for Babo could solidify their defensive unit for the playoff run as well as next season.

Nick Foligno

For a team that needs a power forward, a young one would be just fine with me. The Ottawa Senators need an overhaul and selling at the deadline is likely.

It might cost a bit to get Nick Foligno, but the Hawks should consider looking into it. The former first-round pick for the Sens in the 2006 draft, Foligno brings decent speed, solid hands and toughness to a second or third line. At 24, there is still a lot of upside to his game.

Ottawa will need to decide whether or not they want to up the ante for Foligno as his $1.3 million a year contract expires at season's end.

Whether a rental or a longer-term piece, there is a lot to like about Foligno and he could fit in well where a player like Bryan Bickell has not. 

Filip Kuba

One player that the Senators will definitely be looking to unload is Filip Kuba. He still puts up decent numbers as a defenseman and may be a player to contribute on Chicago's power play.

If the Hawks go after Foligno, the Sens may want to throw Kuba in that mix as well. He has $3.75 left on his contract this year before becoming and an unrestricted free agent in the summer.

Kuba would be a rental for certain, as he would not fit in well with the Hawks' plans. Granted, I would much rather have Gill or Babchuk, but Kuba is destined to be on the move and at the very least the Hawks should take a flier on him. 

David Jones

The Colorado Avalanche's David Jones may be the highest on my wish list right now. I'm not sure why the Avs have started off well the last two seasons and gone into a tail spin. There seems to be some sort of odd dynamic as the aging Milan Hejduk was recently elected captain as opposed to a face for the future.

With Hejduk's contract expiring, Colorado will likely let him walk.

Jones pumped in 27 goals last season and is on a similar pace this season. He is exactly what the Hawks need up front. He has hands, gets to the net with purpose and is very physical.

The Avs have both Erik Johnson and Matt Duchene entering the restricted free agent scene after this season. Duchene will no doubt be staying and getting a raise. Jones will be an unrestricted free agent after earning $2.5 million this season.

If they do not prioritize Jones and continue their inconsistent play, they may sell. Stan Bowman should jump all over that and keep him around for the future as well.