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Blackhawks Fri Mar 29 2013
Blackhawks Should Take A Look At Derek Roy
The Chicago Blackhawks need a second line center. After the captain Jonathan Toews, a precipitous drop off in faceoff percentage has taken place. After the this week's trade speculation focused on then Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla, the Blackhawks should look into acquiring a second line center. Iginla would not have worked out in Chicago. The team is stacked at right wing, and it's doubtful Iginla would have played left wing or center. He eventually went on the Pittsburgh -- probably to the betterment of the Hawks.
Dallas Stars center Derek Roy is a player the Blackhawks can make use of. Yes Roy had an injury plagued season in Buffalo last year. At one point in time, he was a number one center in the NHL. He's also an unrestricted free agent this summer. Being a part of an extended playoff run can influence any player to resign.
The tenants of the Madhouse on Madison no longer have to beg free agents to sign here. When Johnny Oduya was a free agent after the team acquired him from Winnipeg, one of the first things he told his agent was that he loved the atmosphere surrounding the United Center. Maybe, Roy will say the same one day. Roy recently told the Dallas Morning News that he is at the stage in his career where winning a Stanley Cup is the main priority.
"When you're younger, you're more concerned with scoring. When you're older, you're more concerned with winning games. I don't have a Stanley Cup under my belt, and that's something I really want. That's all I'm really thinking about right now."
That sounds like he is resigned to the fact that playoff success isn't coming to the Lone Star state.
Toews is in the NHL's top ten in faceoff win percentage. Second line center Dave Bolland checks in at number 53 with a faceoff percentage of 44.6. If Roy was currently on the Blackhawks roster, he would be second in faceoff win percentage. Some of the goals the team has given up in their zone came from losing face-offs.
Why not bring in a guy who looks like he can help the team? The Stars are already out of the playoff picture. They already unloaded their captain Branden Morrow to Pittsburgh and probably wouldn't mind getting a return for Roy rather than having him walk away after the season for nothing.
Of course, like any other trade, each team has to give something up. The Blackhawks minor league system is loaded. Also, some the young players on the current roster could be traded if Stan Bowman is so inclined. Brandon Saad, Nick Leddy, Brandon Pirri or last year's first round draft pick Teuvo Teravainen might be included in the group of players the Stars might be interested in. Some may bristle at that notion that some of the young players might get traded, but it's hard to argue with the GM if he feels it'll improve the team.
The Blackhawks have a clear shot at a championship. If a fan favorite gets shipped off to another team, that's the price of doing business. No one will have conflicted feelings if NHL commissioner Gary Bettman hands Lord Stanley's Cup off to number 19 in June.
