Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011
Posted 5:37 p.m.
By Tracey Myers
CSNChicago.com
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman got a little break in his voice while he was talking about the quickly approaching trade deadline.
Im losing my voice here a little. Ive been on the phone all day, he said.
Indeed, Bowman has been burning up the phone lines, making plenty of calls to acquire a center or defenseman before the NHL trade deadline expires at 2 p.m. CST Monday.
After a flurry of trade activity throughout this last week, Sunday has been very quiet. With less than 24 hours remaining before the deadline, Bowman said it was still optimistic that a deal would be done.
Theres a lot of talking still but its probably one of those things where the first domino has to fall and then I think itll spur other things, he said. If we end up with the group we have now, Im very comfortable with that. But were aggressively trying to improve the team.
NHL
Bowman spoke mainly of acquiring a penalty-killing defenseman right after the team traded for Michael Frolik early this month. But on Saturday he talked as much about getting a center. Either way, Bowmans looking to improve the Blackhawks depth and hes not looking to take from the current roster to do it.
So a situational player it will be. But will it be a defenseman or center? Or both?
Its unlikely youre going to get both of those, he said. Were working on both fronts because you dont know which ones going to come in your lap at the end.
Bowman will likely try and maintain his voice despite the calls hell be making through the early part of tomorrow. Hell make a move to try and bolster this roster. He wont be looking to make a dramatic alteration.
Ive made it clear Im not looking to trade players off my team unless its a team thats looking to move a player for a salary reason or a situational reason, he said. Were trying to acquire a player. I like the guys we have in the room. Were not in a spot where we want to take a significant player and move him out. Were just starting to come together and see some good things.
Tracey Myers is CSNChicago.com's Blackhawks Insider. Follow Tracey on Twitter @TramyersCSN for up-to-the-minute Hawks information.