What top six players would Mike Keenan want from the Blackhawks?
The question is pertinent because New York Rangers General Manager Neil Smith scouted the Hawks Sunday night against Philadelphia for the second straight week. Smith held a pregame discussion in General Manager Bob Pulford’s office.
Keenan’s wish list would go like this now that he’s the Rangers’ coach: Chris Chelios, Ed Belfour, Jeremy Roenick, Steve Smith, Steve Larmer and Bryan Marchment.
But say Chelios, Belfour and Roenick are unavailable. That leaves Larmer prominent as he remains an antsy holdout.
Don’t totally discount Smith and Marchment, however. It all depends on how big a deal Smith wants to make.
Keenan is complaining about Tony Amonte’s fitness, saying he has no motivation to succeed in this area. He scored 68 goals the last two seasons with New York and the winger wouldn’t mind being reunited with his Thayer Academy center, Roenick. The Hawks could use offense like Amonte possesses.
There is also speculation the Rangers are trying to make a long-rumored Hartford-Chicago trade a three-way deal, with Larmer going to New York.