NHL Odds: Sharks Buy, Hawks Sell Before Thursday Matchup

Have the Chicago Blackhawks (27-28-8) pulled the plug on their playoff hopes? The last-place team in the Central Division was a seller at Monday’s NHL trade deadline. The San Jose Sharks (33-21-9), on the other hand, are second in the Pacific, and they’ve bolstered their lineup ahead of Thursday’s matchup with the visiting Hawks, beginning at 10:30 PM ET on WGN and NBCSN.

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Chicago did quite well at the deadline sending RW Ryan Hartman (eight goals, 17 assists in 53 games) to the Nashville Predators and getting a first-round pick as part of the exchange. The Hawks also shipped RW Tommy Wingels (seven goals, five assists in 57 games) to the Boston Bruins for a fifth-round pick, and they waived LW Lance Bouma (three goals, six assists), so depth might be an issue this Thursday.

The Sharks, meanwhile, sent a conditional first-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the deal for top-line LW Evander Kane (20 goals, 20 assists). It was a small price to pay, but Kane is in a prolonged slump, scoring just five goals and an assist since January 1. He’ll also be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

NHL Odds: Kane Joins Sharks to Face Stripped-Down Hawks

The San Jose Sharks (33-21-9) will have a new top line this Thursday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks (27-28-8), starting at 10:30 PM ET on WGN and NBCSN. The Sharks acquired LW Evander Kane from Buffalo before Monday’s trade deadline; he’s expected to man the first unit alongside center Logan Couture and RW Joe Pavelski.

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With the playoffs a distant possibility, Chicago was a seller at the trade deadline, sending RW Ryan Hartman to Nashville for a package including a first-round pick. Hartman played on the third line for the Hawks, and led the team in plus-minus at plus-5.