The Chicago Blackhawks are still reeling from the sudden loss of NHL goals-leader and perennial All-Star, Patrick Kane.
With Kane forced to undergo surgery and expected to miss approximately 12 weeks, Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is "working hard to get a deal done today," per ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
According to the latest NHL trade rumors, Bowman has centered his focus on the Arizona Coyotes and could be attempting to land a package deal of both center Antoine Vermette and steady defenseman Zbynek Michalek.
TSN's Elliotte Friedman, after reporting that the Blackhawks "really tried" to land Andrej Sekera from the Carolina Hurricanes, surmises that the Blackhawks - reportedly hot on the trail of Vermette - could be looking to land both players in a blockbuster deadline deal.
"So the one thing I also have wondered about Chicago is if they're trying to get both Vermette and Michalek out of Arizona," Friedman said on Calgary's Sportsnet 960, per NicholsOnHockey.com. "There are a couple of teams I think are trying to do that. Michalek's situation is a little muddy right now because he's battling a concussion, and I think the Coyotes know their best chance of getting value for him right now is by packaging him with Vermette. I think Chicago is a team that would do that."
Michalek's value is obviously hindered by the concussion issue, but with the Blackhawks looking to fill both the spot in the lineup left by Kane's injury and add an upgrade on defense, a deal for both players could kill two birds with one trade deadline stone.
LeBrun, appearing on Montreal's TSN 690 on Thursday, said that Vermette is clearly the guy that Bowman is targeting at this point. While he won't call a Vermette-to-Chicago deal "100 percent," he does believe there's a good chance it - or a deal similar to it - happens.
"Vermette is the guy they want the most," LeBrun said, per NicholsOnHockey.com. "But I know they've checked in on Glencross. They've checked in on Cam Atkinson. You name it. So we'll see which one they end up with."
