Stan Bowman heads to Winnipeg as Jets dangle Andrew Ladd

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Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman’s tour of Canada continued Tuesday night as he took in the Jets versus Stars game in Winnipeg.

With the trade deadline less than a week away, Bowman might have had his eye tuned to former Blackhawk Andrew Ladd, who has been rumored to be on the trade block.

It’s the second game Bowman has attended in the past two nights after taking in the Canadiens versus Predators game in Montreal Monday.

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It’s no secret that Chciago is looking to add depth at left wing – specifically someone to play on the top line, and Ladd would fit that bill. Winnipeg’s captain has 16 goals and 33 points in 58 games this season.

Former Chicago GM Dale Tallon sent Tuomo Ruutu to Carolina for Ladd at the trade deadline in 2008 and the now 30-year-old winger spent part of three seasons in Chicago – playing a role in the Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup championship run.

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According to ESPN’s, Pierre LeBrun, Tallon – now the Panthers’ GM – is once again interested in swinging a deadline deal for Ladd, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. But Ladd won’t come cheap.

The biggest obstacle for Bowman might not be finding the pieces to send in return, but figuring out how Chicago can manage to fit Ladd into the budget.

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Stats via Hockey-Reference