Will Nylander Return?

There has been a lot of talk of a possible trade involving the Hawks. The biggest rumor has been trading Byfuglien and Sopel to Washington for Michael Nylander. I personally wouldn't make this trade at this point in the season. I watch a lot of Washington games and Nylander hasn't wowed me this year especially for what he costs. Byfuglien is a good young forward who fits on this team.

Nylander has been a healthy scratch some nights, which means that when the Caps aren't too decimated with injuries they don't view him as a crucial part of their success. At almost 5 million per year that is way to expensive to not be a crucial part of success. I don't want to make this all about money but the cap is projected to go down by almost $9 million next year and with the economy the way it is who knows what the near future may hold.

Nylander is signed through the 2010-11 season. Does any Hawks fan want him taking up $5 million in cap space when after next year the Hawks have to re-sign Kane and Toews? Both will have to be signed well before July 1, 2010 because if they aren't signed I can't even imaging how fast the offer sheets will come. I would much rather not trade for Nylander than have to face losing either Kane or Toews, this early on in their careers. In this post-salary cap world everything is about looking ahead and being cap concious.

I think that the Hawks could benefit from another veteran but I don't think Nylander is necessarily the best option.

Did anyone take a look at the standings recently? I know it is only about a quarter way through the season but did anyone think when the Blackhawks fired Denis Savard that just a few weeks later the Hawks would be 4th in the west.