(promoted from the fanposts -- JPF)

With the NHL trade deadline looming just after the olympic break, a recent report says that the Chicago Blackhawks my have some interest in Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Andrej Meszaros.

Recent reports, from the Chicago Sun-Times and repeated by TSN and others, have speculated that the Chicago Blackhawks may be interested in trading for Meszaros, who on Saturday night scored the OT winner against the Calgary Flames.

One trade possibility, reported by Canada's TSN, says the Hawks have interest in Andrei Meszaros, a defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

To get him, TSN surmises, the Hawks might have to part with forwardKris Versteeg, forward Patrick Sharp or young defenseman Cam Barker. Other sources say the Hawks might go after the Carolina Hurricanes' Niclas Wallin, the Los Angeles Kings' Sean O'Donnell or the Ducks' Scott Niedermayer.

 via cache1.asset-cache.net

Could It Work?:

Well, it may actually make sense. First off, the trading of defenseman Niclas Wallin to the San Jose Sharks (whom the Hawks had interest in) narrows their options. It also makes sense because of the salary cap hit of Blackhawks forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, as well as defenseman Brian Campbell and goaltender Cristobal Huet. Blackhawks management knows that they must make salary cap room in order to have the depth to compete every year, as well as keep their superstar players around.

The Bottom Line Is:

Anything can happen. We all know that there are some fans out there who are dissatisfied with the play of Meszaros. He just hasn't seemed to be all he was hyped up to be when he was in Ottawa. When he got traded to Tampa Bay we were expecting a promising young defenseman who could play well in his own end and put up modest numbers offensively, and at times, it seems he is doing neither.