Blackhawks go all in for third Cup title in six years

CHICAGO -- The message Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman sent with two trades this weekend was clear: He expects to win the Stanley Cup despite losing right wing Patrick Kane for an estimated 12 weeks with a fractured left clavicle.

Bowman traded for defenseman Kimmo Timonen on Friday, then acquired center Antoine Vermette on Saturday. That he got the skilled veterans without trading any players off the Blackhawks roster said it all.

"[It] means a lot," left wing Patrick Sharp said after practicing with Timonen on Sunday. "Both guys are well-respected players across the League. Tip the cap to Stan and the management for improving our team. We're excited to play [Monday]."

Neither trade would've been possible without Kane's injury landing him on long-term injured reserve. That granted Bowman enough relief against the NHL salary cap to afford each player.

"Losing [Kane], the way he was going, was a tremendous blow," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "But you get a couple of guys who make you deeper and stronger and experienced, and they're looking to enjoy what we've had the privilege of doing. So, it's a nice situation in a tough spot, and I think our team's excited about the additions."

Salary-cap constraints don't apply in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so the Blackhawks could conceivably get Kane back at some point during the postseason without having to jettison any salary in their quest for a third Stanley Cup in six years. Quenneville, asked if he'd allowed himself to ponder the idea of Kane returning to a team that's now stronger on defense and at center, smiled.

"That's the plan," he said.

Timonen, who was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers, practiced with the Blackhawks for the first time Sunday.

The 39-year-old puck-moving defenseman zipped around with ease and practiced on the top power-play unit at the left point. He showed off good speed during rush drills, and even drew cheers from the crowd by scoring at nearly full speed by tucking it between the pads of starting goalie Corey Crawford.

"Getting to meet Kimmo today and skating with him, it was fun out there," said Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, who was paired with Timonen during 5-on-5 drills. "He seems like a great guy, and obviously being able to watch him and see what he's been able to do over his career, it's been pretty cool to see."

Timonen hasn't played this season and spent six months battling to return from blood clots in his legs and lungs.

"[I was] looking forward to this morning," said Timonen, who will turn 40 on March 18. "I got in [Saturday] night and couldn't sleep. I was so excited. It's nice to be here and have a practice, and a really good practice."

Vermette was traded to the Blackhawks by the Arizona Coyotes after a game against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, a ninth straight loss. He is expected to center the Blackhawks' second line against the Carolina Hurricanes at United Center on Monday.

"Truly, it's an exciting moment," Vermette said during a teleconference Sunday. "You know, I'm going to face some good hockey coming up and [I can] get excited about looking at the standings again and looking at what's going on. I'm not going to lie. The standings part, where I was, I wasn't looking too much at lately."

Vermette found out about the trade on the Coyotes' plane, which was rolling toward the runway in Boston at the time. Arizona general manager Don Maloney delivered the news.

"Literally, I was sitting on the plane and we were moving to takeoff when I got the confirmation that I was traded," Vermette said. "It was close enough that actually I was talking to Don Maloney, the GM of [Arizona]. I said, 'I hate to do this Donny, but we're actually literally taking off right now.' So we cut the conversation a little shorter, and that's how it happened."

Quenneville and the rest of the Blackhawks were happy that conversation occurred, just as they were excited to hear of the Timonen trade a day earlier. Each move should provide the Blackhawks with depth in an area they needed it.

Timonen could offset the preseason trade of speedy, puck-moving defenseman Nick Leddy for salary-cap purposes. Vermette's two-way skills and ability to win draws should help in all situations.

"You got two guys that come in with some experience and some excitement knowing they have a chance to be champions," Quenneville said. "I think that it's important for our team, and we added some pieces and players where we could use some depth and help. Both guys are extremely excited about being here. Just watching Kimmo out here, he's as excited as we are to get playing [Monday]. I think he can help us."