Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is investigating the trade market to improve his club ahead of the February 27 trade deadline, according to a recent segment of SportsNet‘s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker.

Bowman is said to be intent on the Blackhawks recapturing the Stanely Cup this season, and believes is only a couple of players short of a roster that could accomplish that. The HockeyCentral panel reports that Bowman is looking to add a veteran top-six forward — preferably a center — and a top-four NHL caliber defenseman to fill out the Blackhawks’ bottom pair.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun also reports that a number of teams, including the Blackhawks, will explore the possibility of trading for Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller should he become available. However, the HockeyCentral panel shot down any suggestions the Blackhawks will look to make any changes between the pipes.

The HockeyCentral report is more in line with what Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times also reported recently.

According to Jahns, the Blackhawks have been linked to Edmonton Oilers pending free agent center Sam Gagner — a friend and ex-teammate of Patrick Kane’s — and that the Winnipeg Jets have kept a close watch on their games. Before becoming the general manager of the Jets, Kevin Cheveldayoff was a part of the Blackhawks’s front office so he is familiar with the players.

Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

Jahns suggests that a couple of Carolina Hurricanes players may be two worthwhile options to investigate — forward Tuomo Ruutu, and former Blackhawk, and defenseman Tim Gleason. However, the price for Gleason is said to two first round draft picks or a first round pick and a top prospect, according to Garrioch.

Jahns notes that the asking price for Drew Stafford, Derek Roy and Brad Boyes of the Buffalo Sabres, and the Anaheim Ducks’ Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and Francois Beauchemin, is also high and wouldn’t make sense for the Blackhawks to pursue.

Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk lists a number of pending UFA defensemen that may become available: Hal Gill of the Montreal Canadiens, Pavel Kubina and Brett Clark of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bryan Allen of the Carolina Hurricanes, Adrian Aucoin of the Phoenix Coyotes, Andy Sutton of the Edmonton Oilers, and Steve Staios and Milan Jurcina of the New York Islanders.

Bowman is said to be willing to part with draft picks, prospects / AHLers (such as forwards Brandon Pirri and Jeremy Morin and defensemen Shawn Lalonde and Brian Connelly), and depth players off his roster, for the pieces he’s looking to bring in. Defenseman Dylan Olsen, center Kevin Hayes and winger Brandon Saad are believed to be off limits.

Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini could be taking calls on a number of players.

Edmonton Oilers forward Ales Hemsky. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

One of them is forward Ales Hemsky, according to the Edmonton Journal and NHL general manager and SportsNet analyst Doug MacLean.

I would say he most definitely will be traded at the deadline. This guy is a pretty good hockey player… but for whatever reason, this season he simply hasn’t been able to get it done. His durability comes into major question.

MacLean adds that the Oilers may not receive as much as they think for Hemsky.

I don’t see teams paying a big price.

Fellow SportsNet analyst Nick Kypreos suggests that the pending unrestricted free agent could be much sought after since as many as 15 teams are looking to add a top-six forward. The list includes the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, and the Washington Capitals.

There’s a lot of teams right now looking for a top six forward and he certainly fits the bill.

The Edmonton Journal believes that the surprising Senators — looking to bolster their offence for a playoff run — could be a major player for Hemsky.

As for what the Oilers would want in return Hemsky, the consensus is that they need a puck-moving defenseman — someone like Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators.

However, the Predators may not want to move Ellis because a) of fears they may lose Ryan Suter via free agency this summer and don’t want to deplete their blueline, and b) Hemsky is a rental.

The Edmonton Journal quotes an NHL scout saying that the Predators may have some interest in another Oilers forward — one with more grit.

I think the Predators would rather have Ryan Smyth if he was available than Hemsky.

Ryan Smyth is unlikely to go anywhere, though. There’s very little chance he waives the no-trade clause in his contract to accommodate a trade.

The Oilers are also said to covet Buffalo Sabres’ Drew Stafford. However, the Sabres are looking to add a top-six forward and the Oilers don’t have anyone to trade them that would qualify. Including Hemsky, who is more of a depth player now than a front-line player.

Meanwhile, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that Nikolai Khabibulin could also be on the move. While Tambellini isn’t shopping the veteran goalie, teams in need of an upgrade between the pipes could come calling. Garrioch expects the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs to be among the teams interested.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

Lastly, Edmonton Journal’s Jonathan Willis suggests that veteran defenseman Andy Sutton could pique the interest of teams looking to shore up their depth to their blueline with some sand paper.