The NHL trade deadline day greeted Chicago residents with five inches of fresh snow, declining temperatures, and strong winds. Unfortunately for Chicagoans, and Blackhawks' fans alike, trade winds played a minimal role in the day’s proceedings.

One of the earlier trades of the day saw the Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes swap oft-injured and under-performing wingers, Tuomo Ruutu for Andrew Ladd. Ruutu’s departure marked the last remaining member of the pre-lockout Blackhawks team – a significant symbol of Chicago’s player turnover in less than three seasons. The 25-year-old Finnish winger also was a respected young veteran of the current team and one of its few consistent, physical forces on the ice.

Ruutu was selected ninth overall in the 2001 NHL draft and brought with him considerable hype playing a physical offensive style in the mold of Peter Forsberg. After a disappointing start to his rookie season in 2003-04, Ruutu excelled in the second half and finished with 23 goals and 44 points. The next three years featured several knee, back, and ankle injuries for Ruutu, robbing him of playing time and his once-dynamic skill-power combination. In its wake was a physical player struggling with his offensive confidence. Ruutu was traded after amassing only six goals and 21 points in 60 games for the Blackhawks this season.

Despite Ruutu’s disappointing offensive totals, the main impetus for his trade to Carolina came down to money. He was going to become a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Blackhawks would have to qualify him at 110% of his current salary to retain his services. In Ruutu's case, his annual salary then would rise above the $2 million mark. The Blackhawks liked Ruutu and what he brought to the table, but the league's current financial landscape requires teams to consider a player's point total in addition to his other assets.

In Andrew Ladd, the Blackhawks received a younger, cheaper forward. Like Ruutu, Ladd has struggled staying in the lineup due to injuries, which kept him from gaining any consistency during his three NHL seasons. Unlike Ruutu, though, Ladd’s injuries don’t seem to be of the chronic variety. He doesn’t hit as hard or as often as Ruutu, but the 22-year-old’s size and skill may see him mature into the productive power forward Carolina thought they were drafting with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft. Perhaps a positive omen of things to come is nine of Ladd’s 18 points this season have come in his previous nine games.

Chicago’s one other trade today was a minor move that came to no one’s surprise. The Blackhawks shipped veteran winger Martin Lapointe to Ottawa for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, giving him a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. Lapointe has been known throughout his career as a well-respected leader in the locker room, but his on-ice production no longer warranted a spot in the lineup. The Quebec native will add some grit and leadership to the Senators’ playoff drive.

The Week Ahead

The Blackhawks enter Wednesday’s home game against Phoenix eight points behind eighth-seeded Nashville. Even more daunting, four teams – one of which is the Phoenix Coyotes – sit between the Hawks and that coveted eighth spot. After the key game against Phoenix, Chicago travels to face Pacific Division-leading Dallas on Thursday night and then returns to Chicago to host Vancouver on Sunday afternoon.

Chicago’s pair of back-to-back games last week produced a split in each, giving the team four points in four games. Unfortunately, despite 13 points in the team’s last nine games overall, the remaining glimmer of postseason hope is fading. At this point, practically every game is a must-win for the Blackhawks to continue their playoff aspirations.