The Chicago Blackhawks seem to be shifting their focus away from Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis.
While the Blackhawks are interested in adding depth to their blue line, the team's interest in Hamhuis has "cooled considerably," according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
In turn, McKenzie suggests the team appears to be focused on "lower-level depth options on the blue line." Given that, McKenzie believes anything is possible as the trade deadline draws closer.
Could that change? Sure. Door not completely shut, but at this moment in time, that's the CHI outlook, FWIW. #tradecentre #TSN
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 26, 2016
A potential deal for Hamhuis would also be difficult for the Blackhawks given cap stipulations. After acquiring forward Andrew Ladd from the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, the Blackhawks will have just under $1.5 million of cap space on deadline day, according to General Fanager, while Hamhuis has a cap hit of $4.5 million.
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How do you get the best out of Matt Bartkowski? Tell him he might be traded.
One day after it was reported that the Vancouver Canucks had named him as one of seven players available at the trade deadline, the 27-year-old went off for a career-best, three-point night - scoring two goals and adding an assist - in a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Bartkowski picked up a point on the first three Canucks goals, and after his second goal knotted the score at three apiece, the team's Twitter account couldn't help but acknowledge the man keeping them in the game.
GOAL COUNTS!
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) February 26, 2016
Live look at Bartkowski tonight pic.twitter.com/A18XCplooM
"I probably have like eight voicemails from my mom," Bartkowski said post-game about his proud mother, who gained fame watching her son score live during a game earlier in the month. "You're lucky she wasn't here or everyone would have heard her tonight."
Bartkowski now has five goals and 11 assists in 59 games this season.
Emerson Etem also had a two-goal game, adding an empty-netter in the final minute to clinch the win. Jake Virtanen scored the game-winner during a third-period power play, and Ryan Miller made 27 saves to pick up his second consecutive win.
As for the Senators, they saw their four-game winning streak come to an end as they hope to make yet another late-season push for the playoffs. Star forwards Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone and Bobby Ryan all found the net for Ottawa.
The Canucks have one more game before the trade deadline, as they host the San Jose Sharks on Sunday. The Senators will finish their three-game Western Canadian road trip against the Calgary Flames on Friday.
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Mark Stone was understandably pumped after netting his 20th goal of the season against the Vancouver Canucks, immediately skating to the glass to high-five some traveling Ottawa Senators fans in the corner after the shorthanded tally.
The goal gave the Senators a 2-1 lead as they looked to extend their winning streak to six games.
The 23-year-old needs six more goals to match his career high from a year ago.
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With his name flying around in trade rumors ahead of the NHL's Feb. 29 deadline, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis gave a candid interview on TSN 1040, reiterating that he hasn't been asked to waive his no-trade clause.
Related - Report: Blackhawks have 'serious interest' in Canucks' Hamhuis, Vrbata
"Everything is in the realm of possibility because there's so many moving parts," the pending unrestricted free agent said. "It's not fun seeing all the speculation."
Hamhuis is in the final season of a contract paying him $4.25 million while carrying a cap hit of $4.5 million. The 33-year-old is from British Columbia, so potentially leaving the team he came home to play for presents an agonizing decision.
"This is not what you play for," he said. "You play to be in a playoff race."
The Canucks are 10 points back in the Western Conference wild-card race. It's all but officially over, and the team's reportedly "open for business" in the trade market.
Hamhuis could waive his no-trade clause, go to a contender to try and win a Stanley Cup, then return to Vancouver as a free agent in the offseason.
Hamhuis on leaving, then returning: That's one of the options. And a very interesting one. We've loved Vancouver and would welcome more
— TSN Radio Vancouver (@TSN1040) February 25, 2016
"You can argue the pros and cons until you're blue in the face. No one has asked me to waive anything."
The club confirmed the fact on Twitter.
Hamhuis: The ultimate dream is to win the Cup with Canucks. I always have that desire to win, that's why I've gone to 7 World Championships
— TSN Radio Vancouver (@TSN1040) February 25, 2016
Hamhuis added that he'll assess his options with his family over the next few days, and that he'll head into the weekend with an open mind.
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The Vancouver Canucks have completed a trade with another Western Canadian rival, sending a conditional 2017 fifth-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers for the rights of defenseman Philip Larsen.
Larsen, a former fifth-round selection with 125 games of NHL tread, has spent the last two seasons in the KHL after a 30-game stint (in which he netted 12 points) with Edmonton in 2013-14.
TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting that the fifth-round pick could be elevated to a fourth-round selection should Larsen hit production thresholds.
The Oilers, who acquired Larsen in the Shawn Horcoff trade, extended the slight defenseman a qualifying offer before he bolted to Russia, thus retaining his rights.
The fifth-round pick used to land Larsen is the second 2017 draft selection that the rebuilding Canucks have parted with.
McKenzie also notes that Vancouver intends to sign Larsen before July 1, and have him join the team for next season.
Vancouver acquired Markus Granlund from the Calgary Flames on Monday in exchange for top prospect Hunter Shinkaruk.
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