Chicago Blackhawks: Four Trades That Would Make Sense

The Chicago Blackhawks are a team that seems to have no weakness at this point, as they are riding a seven-game winning streak.

They have been led in scoring by sophomore wing Patrick Kane and second-line center Patrick Sharp (a converted wing) but could Sharp be more productive if he was allowed to move back to wing?

Yes, I believe with less responsibility defensively and having to focus on face-offs, Patrick Sharp could be more productive.

With this in mind, I have devised four trades that 'Hawks could make in order to add a second-line center and move Patrick Sharp back to wing.

The Chicago Blackhawks trade Nikolai Khabibulin and Petri Kontiola to the Los Angeles Kings for Jared Stoll

The Kings have plenty of cap space to accommodate Khabibulin and have a player the 'Hawks could use to fill their void on the second line in Stoll.

Stoll has 18 points in 31 games and has posted a plus-5 rating; he would also provide the 'Hawks with a long-term solution on the second line, as he is signed through 2011/2012 season at an affordable $3.6 million cap hit.

The Kings are not out of the playoff hunt in the Western Conference, only three points behind the Nashville Predators for the eighth playoff spot. They could use a solid go-to goaltender and would get one in Khabibulin.

The Kings would also receive a young center in Kontiola, who leads Chicago's AHL team in scoring. Kontiola has also asked to be traded so as you will see he will be involved in a few of these trades.

The Chicago Blackhawks trade Brent Sopel and Troy Brouwer to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Jeff Halpern

The Lightning do not look like a team that is going to be able to compete in the Eastern Conference this season, but they do need help on defense this year and probably next year. Sopel is a solid stay-at-home defensemen but with the return of James Wisniewski and good play of Matt Walker, he has become expendable.

Jeff Halpern fits two major needs of the Blackhawks: a second-line center and a good veteran leader in the locker room. Halpern does not put up a ton of points but is an inexpensive option and a player who can distribute the puck to his likely line mates Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane.

I decided to add Troy Brouwer to the mix because he is a player that the Lightning do not have a lot of: a gritty player who plays well without the puck and plants himself in front of the net. Kontiola is not a player the Lightning needs, as they already have a plethora of skilled forwards.

The Chicago Blackhawks trade Martin Havlat to the Vancouver Canucks for Pavol Demitra

There have been rumors that the Canucks have been looking for an explosive wing to play with Mats Sundin, and Martin Havlat fits that description. With the addition of Sundin, the Canucks have quite a few centers on their roster in Ryan Kesler, Pavol Demitra, Kyle Wellwood, and Henrick Sedin.

The 'Hawks would likely rather add Kesler because he is younger and cheaper, but not knowing the Canucks cap situation after the addition of Sundin, I decided to choose a player closer to Havlat's cap number.

The Chicago Blackhawks Trade Martin Havlat, Jack Skille and Petri Kontiola to The Florida Panthers for Nathan Horton and Radek Dvorak

Nathan Horton has not lived up to expectations in Florida, and he is currently signed through the 2012/2013 season. They might want to shed his salary for the future, and Martin Havlat is a free agent at the end of the season. Dvorak is added into the trade to make the numbers work out.

The Panthers also receive two top-level prospects from the 'Hawks in Jack Skille and Petri Kontiola who can step into the Panthers lineup right away and say there for quite a few years.

Of these trades, I believe the Stoll/Khabibulin trade is the most likely and makes the most sense for both teams, as needs are addressed and neither team loses or gains a ton of cap space. The Kings also receive a very good center in Kontiola, adding incentive to them making this trade.

I have offered up four trades that I believe have a chance of happening before the NHL trade deadline. Do you have any ideas?