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Coming from the general manager who put the team together, it was nothing short of shocking, even if the candor was refreshing.

“It’s hard to sit here with a lot of confidence based on what I’ve watched the last couple weeks,” Rutherford also acknowledged, sharing the sentiments of an increasingly disaffected fan base.

As the NHL trade deadline passed Wednesday, only hours after Joni Pitkanen was lost for the season with a broken heel suffered on a needless collision on an icing play and the Hurricanes gave up three unanswered goals to the Washington Capitals in a 5-3 loss, the Hurricanes were paralyzed by mediocrity.

Tuesday morning, the Hurricanes were buyers, adding defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron, a free agent after the season. Twenty-four hours later, they were sellers, dumping Jussi Jokinen, even agreeing to pay some of Jokinen’s salary in the process.

Four points back in the division with three games in hand, the Hurricanes are far from out of it, mathematically speaking. With only one win in their past 10 games, they might as well be. A despondent Rutherford admitted as much Wednesday.

“Based on the position we’ve put ourselves in here over the past two or three weeks, I wasn’t going to trade younger players or high draft picks for somebody who may or may not make a difference in the last month,” Rutherford said. “There weren’t any deals that made sense for us.”

Once again the Hurricanes are trapped in the middle, the worst place to be. If you’re not going to make the playoffs, it’s better miss by a lot and grab a top player in the draft. Instead, the Hurricanes are trapped in a perpetual cycle of mediocrity, never quite good enough to compete, never quite bad enough to rebuild.

There’s almost nothing wrong with the Hurricanes now that couldn’t have been foreseen before the season. The concerns about scoring depth and defense were all there in January, and when first Cam Ward and then Justin Faulk went down, the foundation the Hurricanes’ early season success had been built upon crumbled, exposing all the flaws Ward and Faulk had helped paper over.

Even with the undisclosed amount the Hurricanes are paying the Pittsburgh Penguins, getting Jokinen’s $3 million off the books next season will help make space for help on defense. That help is needed now, but after watching this team limp through March, it’s hard to blame Rutherford for thinking it wasn’t worth the giving up anything worthwhile to get it.

The Hurricanes are now in a position where not only are they likely to miss the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years since winning the Stanley Cup, they’re doing it in the final season before realignment will make it exponentially more difficult to qualify, and they’re doing it before an offseason in which they will raise ticket prices for the first time in years.

That’s typically not a time a general manager acknowledges his own team’s failings. It just so happened to come the same day he decided it didn’t deserve any help.

DeCock:

667735 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes trade Jokinen to Penguins

Published: April 3, 2013 Updated 2 hours ago

By Chip Alexander — Staff writer

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford had hinted the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday might make for a slow day for his team. Turns out it was.

The Hurricanes made only one trade, sending forward Jussi Jokinen to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional 2013 draft pick -- either a sixth- or seventh-rounder depending on how much Pitkanen plays for the Pens this season.

The Canes (16-17-2) are in 11th place in the NHL's Eastern Conference, trailing Southeast Division leader Winnipeg by four points. Injuries to such key players as goaltender Cam Ward, defenseman Justin Faulk and now defenseman Joni Pitkanen -- out 10 to 12 weeks with a broken heel bone suffered Tuesday against Washington -- could result in the Canes, 1-8-1 in their past 10 games, missing the playoffs for a fourth straight season.

"It couldn't have come at a worse time," Rutherford said of the injuries and the team's late slide. "We spent more money on our team this year. I believe we had a team in place that was a very good team. We've talked about playing well in the first part (of the season) and not as well in the second part.

"But when I talk about it coming at a worse time, this is a year we have decided to raise ticket prices and do different things. That doesn't sit right with the paying customer when they watch a team that was do good in the first half and a team that wasn't good in the second half. So the timing of this could not be worse."

Rutherford made a number of calls and inquiries Wednesday, but said there were no deals that made financial sense and not many impact players available. He said the injury to Pitkanen did not change any of his plans or potential deals.

"Based in the position we've put ourselves in over the last two or three weeks, I wasn't going to trade younger players or high draft picks for someone who may or may not make a difference here in the last month," he said.

The Jokinen trade was made, in part, to move out salary -- Jokinen has one year left on a contract that has a $3 million salary cap hit next season, when the NHL salary cap will be reduced to $64.3 million. The Hurricanes retained a portion of Jokinen's salary but Rutherford declined to give the amount.

Rutherford also said that the Hurricanes on Wednesday signed forward Brock McGinn, a second-round draft pick in 2012. McGinn, 19, played this season for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.

McGinn signed a three-year, entry-level contract that on the NHL level would pay him $700,000 in 2013-14, $750,000 in 2014-15 and $800,000 in 2015-16. At the AHL level, he would be paid $70,000 in each of the three years.

McGinn received a signing bonus of $277,500. He will join the Charlotte Checkers, the Canes' AHL affiliate.

The Hurricanes have 13 games remaining in the regular season, but Rutherford's comments Wednesday about the team did not sound encouraging. He said he is "about as frustrated as you can get" about the way the season has deteriorated.

"We're not sitting here saying it's over," he said. "But the most frustrating thing is that in the first part of the season we showed what kind of team we had ... and we played very well. A whole lot of things happened that put this team in the position that we've gone on a long losing streak and it came at the worse time possible. ...

"The real deal here is to put the best product on the ice that we can. I believe we had a good product. As we speak today we don't."

News Observer LOADED: 04.04.2013

667736 Carolina Hurricanes

Broken heel bone sidelines Pitkanen

Submitted by chipalexander on 04/03/2013 - 08:06

Joni Pitkanen's broken left heel bone, an injury suffered Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals, has ended the Canes defenseman's season.

General manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday that Pitkanen has a broken calcaneus bone and would sidelined 10 to 12 weeks.

Pitkanen was injured late in the second period at PNC Arena as he attempted to touch up the puck and force an icing call against the Caps. He went sliding into the boards, pinning his leg under him, and needed to be carried off the ice on a stretcher.

Canes coach Kirk Muller said after the game Pitkanen injured his ankle or heel.

Pitkanen's injury leaves the Canes with seven healthy defensemen: Tim Gleason, Joe Corvo, Jay Harrison, Bobby Sanguinetti, Jamie McBain, Brett Bellemore and Marc-Andre Bergeron, who was obtained Tuesday in a trade with Tampa Bay.

Justin Faulk, sidelined with a sprained knee, has been skating and is expected to soon return to the lineup.

McBain was a healthy scratch for the Caps game, adding to speculation he might be moved today before the NHL's 3 p.m. trade deadline.

News Observer LOADED: 04.04.2013

667737 Chicago Blackhawks

Hawks stand pat

NFL trade deadline passes with club content to go with what it has

Chicago Blackhawks general manager on what happened with Wednesday's NHL trade deadline.

By Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune reporter

7:58 p.m. CDT, April 3, 2013

Though he already had addressed his most pressing need, Stan Bowman did his due diligence and answered phone calls Wednesday as the NHL trade deadline approached.

Other than a minor deal that actually was the first trade of a relatively sedate deadline day, fielding calls was all it amounted to for the Blackhawks general manager. Bowman listened but was not involved in the other 16 trades that involved 28 players. The GM was content with his acquisition of center Michal Handzus on Monday and stood pat with players already on the roster.

"We did a lot of listening," Bowman said. "There was a lot of talk leading up to (Wednesday) and even a lot of talk (Wednesday) … but nothing we were close on. You have to listen, it's our job to look around at what's available but we have to ask ourselves a question, 'Does it make us better?'

"To make a move just to make a move, we don't believe in that. We had a need at center and to get a little size and (better at) faceoffs and Michal accomplished that a couple of days ago."

Now all that remains to be seen is whether Bowman did enough to add to the roster of the team that entered the day with the most points in the NHL as the postseason nears or whether another move or two would have helped to avoid a third consecutive first-round playoff exit.

"We believe in the group we have here," Bowman said. "I'm very happy with where we're at right now."

Of more importance, the players and coaches believe they have what it takes to make a deep run in the postseason and compete for the Hawks' second Stanley Cup championship in four seasons.

"We're a confident group," said winger Marian Hossa, who is scheduled to return to the ice after missing six games with a shoulder injury when the Hawks face the Blues on Thursday night. "We're doing something special this year and it's a tight group. We've had a great run so we'll see how we are toward the end of the season."

Altering the team's chemistry with the hope of catching lightning with a deadline acquisition proved too risky for Bowman. What the Hawks have had for the most part is what they're going to get during the remaining 13 regular-season games and then playoffs.

"The chemistry has been good," coach Joel Quenneville said. "The combinations up front have been pretty predictable (with) what you get out of them every game, our back end has been better than it has been in the past and our goaltending has been really strong. We've been very pleased … particularly (with) the consistency."

Added Bowman: "We have a lot of depth at every position … which has been the strength of our team. We have young players we have confidence in (and) we have some other players who are rounding into form."

Bowman did pull the trigger on a deal Wednesday, sending forward Rob Flick from Rockford of the AHL to the Bruins for forward Maxime Sauve, who had 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 games with Providence of the AHL.

That was it, though, marking another trade deadline that has come and gone. Now the focus can be placed entirely on what's happening on the ice rather than what's on the cell phone.

"Sometimes it's tricky with teams going into these days with the speculation and the anxiety of potentially some guys being moved in or out," Quenneville said. "As players you can only control what you can control and that's to be ready for the next game."

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013

667738 Chicago Blackhawks

Thursday's matchup: Blues at Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks center Michal Handzus talks about joining the team and his role.

6:40 p.m. CDT, April 3, 2013

TV/radio: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; CSN, WGN-AM 720.

Series: Hawks 2-0.

Last meeting: Hawks won 3-0 on Feb. 28 at St. Louis.

Probable goaltenders: Blues, Brian Elliott, 4-6-1, 3.51 goals-against average; Hawks, Corey Crawford, 15-4-3, 1.97.

Team comparison

Averages per game (NHL rank)

BLUES (18-14-2) CATEGORY HAWKS(27-5-3)

2.82 (10) Goals for 3.26 (2)

2.74 (19) Goals against 2.09 (2)

22.2 (6) Power-play pct. 17.5 (21)

82.9 (10) Penalty-kill pct. 84.9 (6)

Statistics through Tuesday.

Storyline: The Hawks are seeking their fourth consecutive victory overall and third this season against the Blues. Rookie Brandon Saad has three goals over the last two games. The Blues, who have lost 3 of 4, will be without forward T.J. Oshie (lower body). Chris Stewart leads the Blues in scoring with 15 goals and 14 assists.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013

667739 Chicago Blackhawks

Hossa expected back vs. Blues, but Sharp still out

Chicago Blackhawks general manager on what happened with Wednesday's NHL trade deadline.

By Chris Kuc Tribune reporter

6:56 p.m. CDT, April 3, 2013

The injury news was mixed for the Blackhawks as one veteran forward will return to the lineup but not another.

Barring a setback, Marian Hossa will be on the ice against the Blues on Thursday night at the United Center after missing six games with an upper-body injury that a source said is to his shoulder.

"I felt pretty good (Wednesday)," Hossa said after practice at Johnny's IceHouse West. "I'll go before the game in practice, and most likely I'm going to play. There's no reason to wait longer."

Coach Joel Quenneville went further, saying Hossa would return.

"He's going to play, and we're looking forward to that," Quenneville said.

The news was not as bright for Patrick Sharp, who remains sidelined with a left shoulder injury and will sit out his 12th consecutive game.

"It needs to be 100 percent to come back," Sharp said. "It sucks sitting out and missing games. I want to be out there, and when it's ready, I want to play for sure.

"I've been skating for three weeks and can shoot the puck under control. I've been doing it for a long time, so it's frustrating knowing I'm that close to getting into a game but there are some limitations with it."

Depth charge: Veterans Steve Montador and Rostislav Olesz, who are playing in Rockford as they recover from injuries, cleared waivers and will remain in the AHL for now.

"That was really just to see if there was interest out there," general manager Stan Bowman said of the waivers process. "There weren't a lot of trades (Wednesday), but some years there are teams looking for depth moves. That was more or less to see what the market was like. Actually, now that we still have them, it worked out well for us. They're playing great hockey.

"I would venture there's no team that has two guys like that in their American League affiliate right now. They've been NHL players for years and they're getting back to top shape and have played really well for us, so if you add them into the mix of our young players, it puts us probably 16 or 17 deep on forwards and eight or nine defensemen. You need that as the stretch run comes."

New guy: Michal Handzus participated in his first practice with his new teammates after being acquired from the Sharks on Monday.

"I'm just glad to be here — it's exciting," Handzus said. "It's a great team. The first day is always busy. It was a good practice, and I'm just looking forward to games."

Handzus skated at right wing on the fourth line with Brandon Bollig and center Marcus Kruger during drills.

Probable: Patrick Kane missed practice with an illness but is expected to play against the Blues. Daniel Carcillo left practice early but is also likely to play.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013

667740 Chicago Blackhawks

No. 2 center still the Hawks' No. 1 need

Michal Rozsival celebrates with teammates after making his shot during the shootout.

Steve Rosenbloom The RosenBlog

9:59 a.m. CDT, April 3, 2013

If I were a betting man, and I am, I’d wager the Blachawks will let today’s trade deadline pass without acquiring the true No. 2 center they’ve needed since they won the Stanley Cup.

I realize the Hawks made a move to acquire a center earlier in the week. But that was a niche deal, putting a Band-Aid on an owwie. Michael Handzus can win faceoffs, but with just two points this season, he apparently can’t do much after that. Think Sammy Pahlsson, part deux.

For those of you who weren’t on the bandwagon before Joel Quenneville joined Chicago’s Mt. Mustachemore of championship coaches, Pahlsson was acquired late in the 2008-09 season for the same faceoff-challenged reasons. The Hawks can’t play their beloved puck-possession game if they’re chasing the puck after every faceoff.

Pahlsson wasn’t a scorer. Neither is Handzus. If Handzus can win more than half of his faceoffs, he’ll be way ahead of every Hawks center except Jonathan Toews, but here’s the thing:

Handzus is the same defensive-minded move that Pahlsson was. It fills a need. But it doesn’t fill THE need, which is a No. 2 center, which might as well be the Holy Grail for Stan Bowman.

Bowman tried to sell us on Patrick Kane’s being a No. 2 center, even after Kane failed at that last season. Bowman is now saying he believes the Hawks have “done pretty good so far with that,’’ except that they haven’t.

Bolland is not a No. 2 center, he’s playing one line too high and it’s hurting the Hawks because he might be the best No. 3 center in the league.

I’ve heard the argument that Bolland was just fine when he was skating with Patrick Sharp, who has been out with a shoulder injury since March 6. Bad argument, and here’s why:

Your No. 2 center should be the reason a line works, not get pulled along because of someone else. See Jonathan Toews making a scorer out of an offensive stiff like Michael Frolik for details.

Here’s what gets me: Bowman has shown the smarts to acquire and retain defensemen to make sure that nobody is forced to play a role up. Think Nick Leddy as the No. 5 defenseman instead of a top-four guy.

But Bowman has not succeeded in filling the second-most-important offensive spot. Sharp said he has not been approached about playing center when he returns, which looks like Thursday against St. Louis. Sharp said he would play center if asked, because that’s the way Sharp does things.

But that doesn’t solve a lot. That isn’t the all-in move. Worse, I think the returns from injury of Sharp and Marian Hossa is becoming a convenient delusion.

“Some people would say those would be two nice trade deadline additions to have Hossa and Sharp come back --- that’s one way to look at it,’’ Bowman said. “We’ve played well without (Sharp) but we certainly played really well with him, too.’’

No, the Hawks have not played well without Sharp and Hossa. The Hawks have struggled to play above .500 without them.

Besides, you don’t look at them as new acquisitions to fill holes that their absences created in the first place. You look at them as part of the original foundation that still needed work.

When the Hawks were finding all sorts of ways to win, they were doing it with Sharp and Hossa, but they still had some shortcomings. Don’t shovel this stuff that two injured guys are coming back to make it all better. Instead, give me those two guys AND an addition. Specifically, a No. 2 center.

You, of course, want names. Derek Roy was a name, but Vancouver got him from Dallas this week. Hope he doesn’t score a big goal in a Hawks-Canucks playoff series.

There’s Steve Ott, who has just six goals, which is one less than Bolland, but he has more points and is a plus player on a big minus Buffalo team, while Bolland is a minus player on the Hawks.

And as long as Doug Wilson is holding a yard sale in San Jose, see what Joe Pavelski goes for. He has played right wing most of this season, but he has played more center in the NHL and seemed a wonderful No. 2 behind Joe Thornton.

There are many reasons not to make a big deal like this, and almost all of them involve money. I don’t expect any major upgrade to occur by the 2 p.m. CDT deadline today. I would love to be happily surprised. In fact, I’d pay for the bandwagon’s next tank of gas.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013

667741 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Bowman: Any trade 'would have to make sense'

By Chris Kuc Tribune reporter

11:41 a.m. CDT, April 3, 2013

General manager Stan Bowman planned to work the phones until the 2 p.m. NHL trade deadline in an effort to improve the Chicago Blackhawks.

After acquiring Michal Handzus from the Sharks on Monday in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick, Bowman said he was open to making more moves if they did not disrupt the chemistry of the team that currently leads the league with 57 points.

"We’ll have to see how that goes," Bowman said. "It’s our job to keep making those phone calls and we’ve had a lot of meetings internally about guys. It has to make sense for us. We’ve had a good run with the guys we have so far, we don’t’ really want to change that mix, we’re looking to add to it."

The Hawks made the first trade of the day when they swapped minor-league players with the Boston Bruins, according to TSN. Rob Flick was dealt from AHL Rockford to the Bruins for left wing Maxime Sauve. Flick had three goals, two assists and 97 penalty minutes in 51 games with the IceHogs. Sauve had 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 games with the Providence Bruins.

The has been speculation the Hawks would like to add a defenseman to the mix, and the hunt for a No. 2 center continues into its third season. Bowman was coy when asked what position he might be targeting.

"I think we're trying to get better," Bowman said. "If we can find a player that we think will help us, whatever position it is, I'm not going to rule anything out. But we're not really targeting one thing at this point. We've had a lot of discussions about different positions, and we'll see where it goes."

At 27-6-5, the Hawks have run away in the Central Division and hold a four-point lead over the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference with one game in hand. The impressive run will likely keep Bowman from doign anything splashy as he does not want to trade a player off the current roster.

"The group here has really kind of earned the right to see what we can do as a group," Bowman said. "The strength of our team has been our consistency and our depth. And you don't rule anything out but I think our focus is to keep this group together and try to add to it."

Meanwhile, the Hawks on Wednesday recalled winger Brandon Bollig from Rockford of the AHL.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013

667742 Chicago Blackhawks

Corey is the story for Blackhawks from here on out in net

BY MARK LAZERUS mlazerus at suntimes.com April 3, 2013 10:17PM

BLUES AT BLACKHAWKS

The facts: 7:30, CSN, 720-AM.

Updated: April 3, 2013 10:20PM

Ray Emery wasn’t on the ice, or even on the bench, when the Philadelphia Flyers played the Blackhawks in the 2010 Stanley Cup finals. But as he recovered from hip surgery, Emery — who backstopped the Ottawa Senators to the finals in 2007 and who expected to be doing so for the Flyers, too — still was rooting hard for his Flyers to knock off the Hawks.

“These guys played against Philly in the playoffs when I got hurt that year, but I was on that team, that was still my team,” Emery said. “And I wanted that team to win just as badly as I did in Ottawa. It’s a team. You root for each other.”

Despite Emery’s experience in the playoffs, despite becoming the first goalie ever to win his first 12 decisions in a season this year, despite having done everything the Hawks have asked of him and more, Emery knows what he almost certainly will be doing when the calendar flips to May.

Rooting for Corey Crawford.

“The role that I’m in this year is a supporting role to Corey,” Emery told the Sun-Times on Wednesday. “And Corey’s the guy going into the playoffs.”

It was the first time since Emery emerged as a surprise star this season that anyone on the Hawks freely admitted that Crawford has been, is and will continue to be the Hawks’ No. 1 goaltender. His play warrants it. Crawford is 15-4-3 in 21 starts. He’s second in the league with a 1.97 goals-against average and third with a .925 save percentage.

Emery is 12-1 in 14 starts with a 2.09 GAA and .919 save percentage.

“We have so much confidence in both of those guys,” defenseman Nick Leddy said. “No matter which of them’s back there, they’re going to keep us in any game.”

But while goalie tandems are great in the regular season, they don’t fly in the playoffs. Those 2010 Flyers were an exception. Injuries kept shuffling Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton in and out of the net.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has said all season that he hoped one of his goaltenders would “make the decision” for him, but with less than four weeks left in the season and both goalies playing well, it appears Quenneville has made the decision himself.

Crawford will make his third consecutive start Thursday against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center.

“Going into the season and all year, he’s had a bit more of an opportunity than Ray,” Quenneville said. “But both guys deserve every single night to get consideration to be played.”

Crawford’s postseason statistics are almost identical to his career stats through his first two years, but he has yet to win a playoff series in two tries. Last year, in a six-game loss to the Phoenix Coyotes, he had a 2.58 GAA and an .893 save percentage and allowed two soft overtime goals. He entered this season determined to erase that memory with a big playoff run, and he’ll get his chance.

In this third season, Crawford said he’s more confident and less prone to mental breakdowns than he was in the past. On Monday, the Nashville Predators erased a 2-0 deficit with two goals early in the third period. The first came on a bad play by Crawford; the second was swept in after a nice initial stop on a sudden two-on-one on the doorstep.

Instead of coming undone, Crawford held the Predators at bay, then made four of five stops in the shootout to secure the victory.

“I think before, maybe earlier in my career, I would’ve just fallen apart and maybe given up another two after that [first one],” he told the team’s website. “Whatever, it happened. I’ve just got to learn from it and be more careful next time.”

It looks like there will be plenty of next times for Crawford, this month and for up to two more months after that. It’s his team, his net and his chance to entrench himself as the No. 1.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.04.2013

667743 Chicago Blackhawks

Marian Hossa will return against Blues: ‘No reason to wait longer’

BY MARK LAZERUS mlazerus at suntimes.com April 3, 2013 10:17PM

The Blackhawks only made a minor-league deal in the hours leading up to Wednesday’s trade deadline, but they will add a 430-goal scorer to their lineup for Thursday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.

Marian Hossa, who has missed the last seven games with an apparent shoulder injury, will return.

“I felt good [at practice Wednesday], so there’s no reason to wait longer,” said Hossa, who skated in his usual spot at right wing alongside Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews.

Patrick Sharp, however, will miss his 12th game in a row with a shoulder injury. He said he’s still “very close” but has yet to be cleared to play.

“Trust me, it sucks sitting there watching games,” Sharp said. “I want to be out there, and as soon as I’m allowed to, I’ll be playing.”

Dave Bolland, who hurt his foot blocking a shot by Shea Weber on Monday, was back on the ice Wednesday and will be in the lineup, coach Joel Quenneville said. Patrick Kane was sick and missed practice, but Quenneville expects him to play.

Stan-ding pat

General manager Stan Bowman said he did a “lot of listening” up to the trade deadline, but there was “nothing we were close on.”

“We were focused on getting a center,” he said. “We got Michal [Handzus on Monday], and we’re excited about that. We’ve got a lot of depth at every position.”

Bowman was believed to be looking at help on the blue line but didn’t pull the trigger on any moves. With Michal Rozsival and Sheldon Brookbank alternating in the sixth spot each night and Steve Montador rounding into form in Rockford, Bowman said he had no regrets about not adding anybody else.

“We have to ask ourselves the question, does it make us better?” he said. “And to make a move just to make a move, we don’t believe in that.”

Waiver watch

Montador and Rostislav Olesz cleared waivers. Bowman said he wanted to gauge interest in them around the league but said he is glad to have them as potential injury replacements down the stretch and in the playoffs.

“I would venture there’s no team that has two guys like that in their [AHL] affiliate,” he said.

Homecoming

Handzus, acquired from the San Jose Sharks for a fourth-round draft pick, skated on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Brandon Bollig (called back up from Rockford on ­Wednesday). Quenneville said Handzus can play wing or center. He likely will take the faceoffs, regardless. He has won 55.6 percent of his draws this year; Kruger has won 45.1.

Handzus played eight games for the Hawks in 2006 — during the team’s dark ages — before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

“It’s totally different,” he said. “I remember 10,000 people in the stands.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.04.2013

667744 Chicago Blackhawks

Handzus about to find out how much things have changed

By Tim Sassone

Things sure have changed around the Blackhawks since Michal Handzus last played here in 2006-07.

Like hockey actually matters around town.

When Handzus played eight games with the Hawks in '06-07, the United Center was half empty for games, Jonathan Toews was a year away from joining the club, Patrick Kane hadn't even been drafted yet and players could walk down the street without being recognized.

"It's totally different," Handzus said Wednesday after his first practice with the team. "I remember 10,000 people in the stands and now, playing against the Hawks for the last six years, the building is great, it's full and there's a lot of excitement. Obviously, they won a Cup in 2010 so it's totally different."

Patrick Sharp was with the Hawks back then and said Handzus won't recognize the place.

"He's at the best place in the league, if you ask me," Sharp said, "so I'll be curious to see how he reacts to everything over the next few weeks.

"He was one of our top forwards the last time he was here and I don't think anyone knew who he was. Today I think he answered more questions in the last five minutes than he did all of that season."

Handzus skated at right wing on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger at practice Wednesday.

"I'll play wherever they want me and I'll do whatever I can to help the team," Handzus said. "I'll play wing, center, whatever is needed. I'm coming to a great team and there's nothing better I can ask for."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville plans to use Handzus in a variety of ways.

"He can play a number of roles for us," Quenneville said. "He can take faceoffs. He can play both wings. He's a smart player who is versatile in a lot of ways. We like his size, his thought process and can kill penalties. We like the person we're bringing into the locker room as well."

Handzus played for Quenneville in St. Louis his first three seasons in the NHL.

"I learned a lot from him and it's great to be back with him," Handzus said. "I'm just glad to be here. It's a great team. Off ice, I know a lot of guys here: players, coaches, trainers. On ice, I need to work on it pretty fast.

"You can see it's fun here. They've been winning a lot and when that happens there's a lot fun in the locker room and everyone is energized."

Hossa in, Sharp out:

Marian Hossa will return to the Hawks on Thursday night against St. Louis after missing six games with a shoulder injury.

However, Patrick Sharp will sit for the 12th straight game with his shoulder problem.

"I felt pretty good today and most likely I'm going to play," Hossa said. "There's no reason to wait longer."

"It means a lot," coach Joel Quenneville said. "He enhances your team game and he's a player you like the way he plays all over the ice."

Dave Bolland practiced Wednesday after leaving Monday's game against Nashville with a foot injury from blocking a Shea Weber shot.

Patrick Kane was sick and missed practice but is likely to play against the Blues.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 04.04.2013

667745 Chicago Blackhawks

No more deals for Hawks at deadline

Posted by Tim Sassone on Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:51

The NHL trade deadline came and went Wednesday with the Blackhawks taking a pass on making another significant deal.

Getting center Michal Handzus from San Jose on Monday for a fourth-round draft pick turned out to be it for the best team in the Western Conference.

“We believe in the group we have here,” general manager Stan Bowman said. “I think we look at it like we’re a very strong team. You can never get ahead of yourself and there’s still a lot of work to do, but our goal all along was to win the division. We said that from Day 1 and when you do that you get home ice in the first round and that’s our objective.

“We want to finish as high as we can in the standings and keep playing a high level of hockey. Regardless of the positioning and how many points you have, we just want to keep playing at high level of hockey.”

Marian Hossa said it’s up to the players to show management they are deserving of the support.

“We are a confident group in this dressing room,” Hossa said. “The team proved we are doing something special this year. It’s a tight group and full of confidence. We’ve had a great run so we’ll see how we are towards the end of the season. We’ve done lots of good things so far.”

Bowman said he never really came close to pulling the trigger on a trade before the deadline.

“We did a lot of listening,” Bowman said. “There was a lot of talk and as you saw there was a little flurry at the end there but nothing we were close on. You have to listen. It’s our job to look around what’s available, but we have to ask ourselves the question: Does it make us better? To make a move just to make a move, we don’t believe in that.”

Bowman mentioned defenseman Steve Montador and winger Rostislav Olesz as two players who still could figure into the team’s plans down the stretch. Both are rehabbing injuries at Rockford.

“Montador and Olesz are back and playing really good hockey,” Bowman said. “I would venture that there no team that has two guys like that in their American League affiliate that have been NHL players for years. You add them to our young players and we’re probably 16-17 deep at forward and eight-nine on defense.”

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 04.04.2013

667746 Chicago Blackhawks

Bowman: 'We believe in the group we have here'

April 3, 2013, 3:30 pm Nina Falcone

The trade deadline day that started quietly ended with several flurries by Wednesday afternoon. But in the midst of all the swapping, and all the talking, the Chicago Blackhawks did a lot of listening, but not much moving and shaking.

The Blackhawks remained relatively quiet during the latest trade deadline, getting center Michal Handzus from San Jose on Monday, but just doing a minor-league deal on deadline day.

Considering what general manager Stan Bowman said on Monday, it wasn’t totally surprising. The Blackhawks, sitting atop the Western Conference with a 27-5-3 record (and 57 points), like what they’ve got, and Bowman had said several times it would take something that fit to alter things.

Obviously, he meant it.

“We did a lot of listening, there was a lot of talking leading up to today and even today. As you saw there was sort of a flurry at the end (with other teams trading), but there was nothing we were close on,” Bowman said this afternoon. We’ve got a lot of depth at every position… which has been the strength of our team all year long. We have young players we have confidence in, others who are rounding into form that hadn’t played at the beginning but have shown well in Rockford recently.

“It’s our job to look around at what’s available but we have to ask: ‘Does it make us better?’” Bowman said. “To make a move just to make a move, we don’t believe in that.”

A few other teams in the Central Division made moves over the last few days. St. Louis traded for defenseman Jordan Leopold on Saturday defenseman Jay Bouwmeester on Monday night. The Columbus Blue Jackets were very active today, and claimed the biggest surprise move when they got right wing Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers (in exchange for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett and prospect John Moore) and left wing Blake Comeau from the Calgary Flames.

Bowman said it wasn’t a situation where asking prices were too high for certain players.

“When we look at our roster we say, ‘Who are they going to replace?’ Especially on defense, we’ve been sitting a good player out every night,” Bowman said, referring to Sheldon Brookbank and Michal Rozsival, who have been playing very well. "That’s the strength of our team and it shows that way. Unless they’re way better than the players you have, we believe in the group we have here. You look at our group up front, we’ve had some injuries and our young players have stepped up and done a good job. That’s our depth. There was a lot of listening today, but we’re very happy with where we’re at right now.”

So the Blackhawks will go on with what they have. And players say they are fine with that.

“I saw Stan commented that we’ve earned the right to see what this group can do, and that’s a pretty confident thing to say,” said Patrick Sharp, who would return relatively soon from a shoulder injury. “That translates through the team. As a group we have great chemistry, we feel good on the ice together and we like to hear that. It’s nice to hear it from your GM, the one that makes those decisions. I don’t know if we needed to hear it; I think as an organization we feel that way. But it’s nice to hear it.”

A few other teams in the West made moves. The Blackhawks chose to go with what they’ve got. If it works, it’ll be considered genius. If not, well, it will be skewered. But the Blackhawks believe they have as good a chance as any team to win the Stanley Cup with what they have on their current roster and in their system.

They’ll find out soon enough.

“We look at it as a very strong team,” Bowman said. “You can never get ahead of yourself. There’s still a lot of work to do. We’re staying focused, and goal all along was to win the division. You do that, you get home ice; that’s our objective. Regardless of positioning and the points you have, you always want to play a high level of hockey. Coaches have done a good job of preparing guys to give top performances. We want to keep going.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013

667747 Chicago Blackhawks

Hossa in, Sharp out vs. Blues

April 3, 2013, 12:45 pm Mark Lazerus

As the Chicago Blackhawks brass does whatever they do during the waning moments of the trade deadline, one of their stars will be back in the lineup tomorrow.

Marian Hossa will play, but Patrick Sharp is still not ready, as the Blackhawks prepare to host the St. Louis Blues at the United Center on Thursday night. For Hossa, the time is now to return from a shoulder injury that’s sidelined him since mid-March.

“I felt good today,” he said. “So there’s no reason to wait longer.”

Sharp, however, isn’t feeling as good about his shoulder injury yet.

“It needs to be 100 percent to come back, especially with the situation we’re in,” Sharp said of the first-place Blackhawks. “It sucks missing games. When it’s ready, I’ll play for sure. It’s tough because I’ve been skating for three weeks now, I can shoot the puck under control and I’ve been doing it for a long time. It’s frustrating that I’m that close, but there are some limitations with it.”

Patrick Kane was ill on Wednesday but is expected to play Thursday night. Corey Crawford will get the start in net. Dave Bolland, who left Monday’s game after blocking a shot, practiced today and is expected to play tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, where will new acquisition Michal Handzus fit in? He practiced with the fourth line today, going back and forth from wing to center. But perhaps Handzus starts, at least, with the Blackhawks’ second line in Sharp’s absence.

“He can play a number of roles for us. He can play both wings and center,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “He’s a smart player, versatile in a lot of ways. We like his experience, his size, his thought process. We like the person we’re bringing into the locker room.”

Daniel Carcillo left today’s practice but coach Joel Quenneville said he should be fine, that it was more precautionary that he departed.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013

667748 Chicago Blackhawks

Sauve joins Blackhawks, Flick sent to Boston

April 3, 2013, 11:30 am

The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired center Max Sauve from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Rob Flick, according to TSN.

Sauve (6-foot-2, 184 pounds) is currently playing with the Providence Bruins, where he has 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 games this season. Flick has three goals, two assists and 97 penalty minutes with the Rockford IceHogs this season

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013

667749 Chicago Blackhawks

Hawks set to face revamped Blues on CSN

April 4, 2013, 12:00 am

Nina Falcone

The Blackhawks will face another division rival tonight as they take on the St. Louis Blues. Catch all the action on Comcast SportsNet beginning with Blackhawks Pregame Live at 7:00.

The Blackhawks may have come out of Monday's matchup against the Predators with two points under their belt, but the team felt the victory was a disappointment. After holding a 2-0 lead and 27-11 edge in shots on goal at the end of the second period, the Hawks allowed their opponent to tie the game and take it to a shootout.

The lesson here: Chicago's third-period play needed improvement.

"It’s a reoccurring theme lately with teams coming at us hard in the third period," captain Jonathan Toews said following the game. "We have to make sure it’s our best period going forward. That’s gotta be at the forefront of our mindset."

[More: Bowman: 'We believe in the group we have here']

Tonight the Blackhawks will work to apply that message to their game as they face off against St. Louis.

The Blues (18-14-2) defeated the Wild on Monday, ending a three-game skid. St. Louis is currently tied with Nashville as the Western Conference's No. 8 seed, and the team still remains in a very tight race with Edmonton and Columbus as they fight to see playing time past April 27.

Point leaders

Blackhawks: Patrick Kane (19 goals, 24 assists), Toews (17 goals, 19 assists), Marian Hossa (13 goals, 10 assists)

Blues: Chris Stewart (15 goals, 14 assists), Alexander Steen (six goals, 16 assists), David Perron (nine goals, 13 assists)

Trade deadline acquisitions

Blackhawks: Chicago acquired Michal Handzus from the San Jose Sharks on Monday in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick. The 6-foot-5 forward will provide size for the Hawks, as well as some help on faceoffs. He joined his new team at practice on Wednesday and will lace up tonight at the United Center.

Blues: St. Louis has been a bit busier, adding defensemen Jordan Leopold and Jay Bouwmeester to add some depth to their blue line. Leopold recorded two goals and six assists this year with the Sabres, while Bouwmeester tallied six goals and nine assists with the Flames. Both will join their new team tonight in Chicago.

Where's Bollig?

As Brandon Bollig tweeted Thursday, he'll "come out of hiding." After being sent back down to Rockford, No. 52 was recalled by the Blackhawks and rejoined his teammates at Wednesday's practice.

Notes

-- Hossa will rejoin the Blackhawks tonight after being sidelined with an upper-body injury. Patrick Sharp said Wednesday he still needs more time off the ice as he recuperates from a shoulder injury.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013

667750 Colorado Avalanche

Ryan O'Byrne traded by Avalanche to Toronto for 4th-round pick in 2014

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

Posted: 04/03/2013 01:53:33 PM MDT

Updated: 04/03/2013 02:39:40 PM MDT

The Avalanche traded defenseman Ryan O'Byrne on Wednesday on NHL trade deadline day. But for the Avs, that was it.

The last-place-in-the-NHL Avs would have figured to be big sellers on such a day, but a host of factors likely made deals tough to make for general manager Greg Sherman.

As it stood, Sherman made just the one trade: O'Byrne to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft.

O'Byrne, a native of British Columbia, played parts of three seasons with Colorado. While a popular member in the dressing room, his play — like a lot of Avs players — suffered this season. In 34 games with the Avs, he had one goal and three assists and a minus-8.

O'Byrne is making $1.8 million this season and can be an unrestricted free agent in July. The Avs end up getting something for a player who they probably would have lost for nothing.

In a brief interview with Canada's TSN following the trade, O'Byrne tried to size up what went wrong with the Avalanche this season.

"It's tough to say. Obviously in a shortened season, we lost a few in a row and things kind of snowballed there," O'Byrne said. "But there are good young players coming up there and I think they'll be a good team for years to come."

While there were a few big trades Wednesday around the NHL — with Marian Gaborik going from the Rangers to Columbus probably the biggest — deals were tougher to make this year than previous ones.

One big reason: The NHL's salary cap will be reduced from $70.2 million to $64.3 million next season, so bigger contracts were tougher to move.

Also, the shortened, 48-game season has allowed more teams to consider themselves contenders for the playoffs, leaving few teams that were true sellers.

The Avs still have a young roster that management may be hesitant to blow up, despite what looks to be a lottery finish for the third time in the past four years.

Denver Post: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667751 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche makes minor trade; others seem likely as NHL deadline nears

By Adrian Dater

Posted: 04/03/2013 11:06:35 AM MDT

Updated: 04/03/2013 11:43:22 AM MDT

With the NHL's trade deadline ticking down to its 1 p.m. conclusion, Avalanche fans want to know what, if anything, will the team do?

The last-place Avs are expected to make a deal or two, but how big they are remains to be seen. Of the Avs' defensemen who could be on the move Wednesday, Ryan O'Byrne is the most likely.

The Avs would like to move O'Byrne because he can be an unrestricted free agent after this season. His play, especially of late, has not been good, but his size and experience could interest a team looking for defensive depth.

So far, Colorado has made only a small trade, dealing minor-league defenseman Cameron Gaunce to Dallas for forward Tomas Vincour. That was the Avs' first trade in nearly 14 months, dating to their Jamie McGinn-Daniel Winnik, multiple-player deal with San Jose last season.

The Avs might want to move underachieving forward David Jones, but getting much in return is unlikely. Jones has three years and $12 million left on his contract, and he has had a horrible season, with only three goals.

Another player who could be intriguing for some teams is backup goalie J.S. Giguere. He would bring Stanley Cup experience to a contender.

Check www.denverpost.com/avalanche later Wednesday for more details of any possible trades.

Denver Post: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667752 Columbus Blue Jackets

Bold move brings ‘explosive player’ to Blue Jackets

All-Star winger Gaborik acquired from Rangers

By Aaron Portzline

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday April 4, 2013 6:37 AM

When yesterday dawned, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wanted to trade for a winger who could give the Blue Jackets a boost on offense, help provide relief for hard-working goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and shore up the power play.

There are boosts, and there are rocket-launches.

Kekalainen opened eyes across the NHL just before the 3 p.m. trade deadline, acquiring three-time All-Star right winger Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers in the second blockbuster trade between the teams in nine months.

The price was steep. The Jackets sent center Derick Brassard, injured right winger Derek Dorsett, defenseman John Moore and a sixth-round draft pick in 2014 to the Rangers. It’s the Jackets’ first major move under Kekalainen, who was hired in February, and it was the biggest headline of trade-deadline day.

“When a player of (Gaborik’s caliber) became available, we were quite excited about it,” Kekalainen said. “This is an explosive player. We worked on it for quite a while. We’re looking at this as a long-term solution, not a rental. He’s under contract through next season, and we would like to see the relationship continue beyond that.”

The Blue Jackets also traded goaltender Steve Mason — who won the Calder Trophy in 2009 but has struggled since — to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Michael Leighton and a third-round pick in 2015. In a third move, the Jackets shipped a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft to Calgary for rugged right winger Blake Comeau.

Gaborik and Leighton were expected to arrive in Nashville last night and be available for a game tonight against the Predators, while Comeau will take a few days until he obtains a U.S. work visa. The Blue Jackets are in 10th place in the Western Conference but only one point behind eighth-place St. Louis in their push for a playoff spot. Eleven games remain.

“It was a big day for us,” Kekalainen said. “It came together fast at the end. I don’t think I put my phone down in the final two hours.”

Gaborik, 31, has 333 goals and 333 assists in 757 games with Minnesota and New York. He has had three 40-goal seasons, a cumulative plus-84 rating and 62 winning goals, while fending off numerous groin tweaks, pulls and tears. He had offseason shoulder surgery and hasn’t quite been himself with the Rangers this season, with nine goals, 10 assists and a minus-8 rating in 35 games.

“I feel good,” Gaborik said. “It’s hard. Everybody goes through some bumps and bruises, but I feel fine. My shoulder is fine. I feel confident going to Columbus and helping that team make the playoffs.”

Gaborik’s contract, which pays him $7.5 million per season through next season, includes a no-trade clause. After Kekalainen and Rangers general manager Glen Sather agreed to the deal at 2:15 p.m., a mad dash ensued to get Gaborik’s approval signed and delivered to the league in 45 minutes.

In that span, Gaborik spoke with Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson, Kekalainen and Blue Jackets veteran Vinny Prospal, a former Rangers teammate. Gaborik needed only 25 minutes to give his approval.

“It’s nice to be part of a team that really wanted me,” Gaborik said. “The team has shown they’re going in the right direction. We haven’t been performing the way we should (for the Rangers), myself included. It wasn’t the way anybody expected. I haven’t been having fun this year; I don’t think the whole team has at all. I’m looking forward to this challenge.”

Besides Prospal, Gaborik will be reunited with former Rangers teammates Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov. The forwards came to the Blue Jackets in a trade last summer that sent team captain and forward Rick Nash to New York.

The Blue Jackets also received a first-round pick from the Rangers in that trade. In all of yesterday’s moves, the team was delighted to keep all three of its first-round picks for the upcoming draft.

“We had to give up a lot to get a good player,” Kekalainen said. “But those (picks) are very important to us; they’re valuable to us.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013

667753 Columbus Blue Jackets

Michael Arace commentary: Surprising deal gives Jackets new look

By Michael Arace

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday April 4, 2013 5:30 AM

The Blue Jackets have been among the pleasant little surprises of this strange, truncated NHL season. They came from last place, sneaked up on everybody and scrapped their way into playoff contention. They slightly altered the natural order of the league, the way one does by adding a fern in the living room, or by switching out the doormat.

Yesterday, trade deadline day, the change became more pronounced. A flurry of deals were made just before the cutoff, none so large and largely surprising as the one pulled off by general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and his boss, John Davidson, president of hockey operations.

They traded Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth-round pick to the New York Rangers for Marian Gaborik — a former All-Star with goal-scoring bona fides and a Rick Nash-sized contract. The first move made by the new brain trust stands as one of the biggest deals in Blue Jackets history, right up there with the one that brought Jeff Carter from Philadelphia, the one that sent Carter off to Los Angeles and the one that sent Nash packing to the Rangers.

In terms of shock value and audacity, it might be bigger than all of them. It is like someone blew out a wall in the old place. It is disorienting.

Thirteen years ago, the Blue Jackets lost Gaborik on a coin flip and wound up with Rostislav Klesla instead. Klesla is gone — and now, so are Brassard, Moore and the rest of the Jackets’ first 10 first-round picks — and Gaborik is pulling on a new blue shirt. How odd is that?

Two years ago, the Blue Jackets acquired Carter, a mercurial star who begged out of town after 39 games. Now, they have swung another huge deal for another expensive sports car. How fussy is the engine?

Last year, the Jackets traded a former 40-goal scorer to the Rangers for depth. This year, the Jackets traded depth to the Rangers for a former 40-goal scorer. Who made the right move — Scott Howson, Glen Sather, Kekalainen or Sather?

The stated philosophy of the new administration is to build the Blue Jackets brick by brick. Yesterday, the Jackets lost three young blocks. They surrendered some skill, a lot of soul and a 22-year-old defenseman with size and skating ability to get Gaborik — who is 31 years old, has been in and out of Rangers coach John Tortorella’s doghouse, had shoulder surgery last year and nine goals and 10 assists in 35 games this year. Is he the right brick?

What is the deal?

“We’re trying to win now,” Davidson said, “and we’re trying to win in the future.”

The Gaborik deal suits both aims.

The fuzzy, feel-good Blue Jackets are a different animal as they head into a 12-game stretch run. They have upgraded their areas of weakness, an anemic offense and addled power play. Whatever happens next week or next season — after which Gaborik’s contract is due to expire — Blue Jackets management has made it clear that it prizes victory and will be bold in its pursuit.

It is unfair to compare Gaborik with Jeff Carter, a narcissist who looked down on Columbus. Gaborik’s production in last year’s playoffs, which drew the ire of Tortorella, was due in large part to a torn labrum. There is some suspicion that Gaborik has lost some zip on his shot, but he still has some serious wheels and there is little doubt he will benefit from a change in scenery, not to mention a return to right wing.

Kekalainen managed to get Gaborik without compromising the future. Brassard needed a new address, and the addition of Gaborik is a hefty boost in skill. The losses of Dorsett and Moore are mitigated by the Blue Jackets’ depth of bottom-six forwards and young defensemen. It was done without surrendering any of their three, prized first-round picks.

They have, in essence, traded Nash, Brassard, Dorsett, Moore and a sixth-round pick for Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, Gaborik and a first-round pick. That is more than rearranging furniture. It is a renovation, well done.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013

667754 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets notebook: Familiar names depart

By Shawn Mitchell

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday April 4, 2013 5:28 AM

Three of the sturdiest bonds to the old Blue Jackets — those of departed general manager Scott Howson, departed coach Scott Arniel and scant success — were broken yesterday when goaltender Steve Mason was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and forwards Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett were traded to the New York Rangers.

Also dealt was 22-year-old defenseman John Moore, a once-promising prospect deemed exchangeable for more pressing needs that new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and president of hockey operations John Davidson hope can be filled by former All-Star forward Marian Gaborik.

The trades were jarring, if for no other reason than the familiarity of the departed.

Mason, Brassard and Dorsett were three of only seven players on the roster whose tenures dated to the Blue Jackets’ lone playoff season of 2008-09. It was during that season that Mason won the starting job and the Calder Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year at age 20.

But the memory of a season that culminated in a first-round playoff sweep was faded by three seasons of struggle. A fourth was marked by his relegation to the backup spot after the emergence of Sergei Bobrovsky. So Mason, a restricted free agent at the end of the season, was traded to the Flyers for backup goalie Michael Leighton and a third-round pick in the 2015 draft.

“Obviously with the play of Bobrovsky, he has not played as much and his contract is coming to an end,” Kekalainen said. “There is a business side to every decision, as well. We were thinking about it, and there were a few teams that were interested. I thought this was a deal that we had to take to just protect our interest into the future rather than just letting a player walk at the end of the contract.”

Kekalainen acknowledged the example set by Dorsett, an undersized firebrand who led the NHL in penalty minutes last season and is a tough and tireless worker. Dorsett, likely out for the rest of the regular season because of a fractured clavicle, had emerged as a leader.

“We realized the importance of Dorsett in the room, but also he’s been injured for a while, and our team’s been doing pretty well without him,” Kekalainen said. “So we felt that this was a situation where team chemistry is going to be fine going forward.”

Brassard, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2006 draft, was once viewed by the Jackets as a potential No. 1 center. But he never lived up to the billing, averaging 41 points in three full seasons. He had seven goals and 11 assists in 34 games this season.

Moore, too, was a first-round pick (No. 21 in 2009) who played 67 games for the Jackets as a rookie last season. But he was a healthy scratch eight times this season, including four of the previous six games.

Slap shots

The Blue Jackets activated Dubinsky (left knee) and left winger Nick Foligno from injured reserve. Both are expected to be in the lineup tonight at the Nashville Predatrors. … The Blue Jackets capped deadline day with a minor trade, acquiring minor-league goaltender Patrick Killeen, 22, from Pittsburgh for future considerations.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013

667755 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets, Predators at a glance

TONIGHT’S GAME

vs. Nashville Predators

8 p.m., Bridgestone Arena

TV: Fox Sports Ohio

Radio: WBNS-FM (97.1)

Thursday April 4, 2013 5:25 AM

Blue Jackets at a glance

• Past 10 games: 5-2-3

• Power play: 13.3 percent (27th in NHL)

• Penalty kill: 85.7 percent (fourth, tied)

• Injury update: LW Nick Foligno (upper body) and C Brandon Dubinsky (left knee) are probable; D Tim Erixon (upper body) and RW Jared Boll (lower body) are out.

Nashville Predators at a glance

• Past 10 games: 4-4-2

• Power play: 18.1 percent (16th in NHL)

• Penalty kill: 77.6 percent (26th)

• Injury update: C Mike Fisher (hand) is questionable. LW Colin Wilson (upper body) is out.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013

667756 Columbus Blue Jackets