Huet's days as a Blackhawk seem numbered

Cristobal Huet lost his role as the Blackhawks' starting goalie to rookie Antti Niemi before the Olympic break. Rumors have been flying ever since that the Hawks- a solid Stanley Cup threat whose only real weakness is a lack of experience in goal- might be about to make a deal.

One possibility has Huet going back to the Montreal Canadians for young Jaraslav Halek, a future star who unfortunately lacks the playoff experience the Hawks are looking for. But I'm not sure that I can think of anybody who has had such depth in the crease as Halek and Niemi would give the Blackhawks since they themselves briefly had Eddie Belfour and Dominic Hasek back in the 'Nineties. Huet- not a French Canadian, but a French Frenchman, actually born in France- would nonetheless fit in well in a city where Gallic names come naturally.

The Dallas Stars are reportedly trying to move Marty Turco. Don't go there, Mr. Bowman.

The really intriguing rumor has the Hawks acquiring Florida's Tomas Vokun for Huet and other considerations. That would be a solid upgrade, perhaps enough to make the Hawks the favorites to win the Cup. And if, say, Keith Versteeg was included in the deal, it might even be possible to put something together which would not only put the Hawks in a better position to win their first Stanley Cup since 1961, but solve the salary cap crisis that otherwise would force them to get rid of several talented young players next season pretty much any way they can.

The Vokun rumor is the most persistent, and the one I hope is true. In any event, it seems likely that Huet's days as a Hawk are not only numbered, but numbered in single digits. The trade deadline is Wednesday. The deal could be announced as early as Monday.