Blackhawks try to remain focused despite trade-deadline rumors; Crawford update

With Monday’s NHL trade deadline looming, some Blackhawks are feeling the pressure.

General manager Stan Bowman said this month that the Hawks wouldn’t be buyers, the team’s customary role at this time of the season.

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Defenseman Michal Kempny was the first Hawk to be dealt when he was traded to the Capitals for a third-round pick in the June draft. He also most likely won’t be the last.

The trade deadline is the white elephant in the Hawks’ dressing room.

“It’s that time of year,’’ forward Ryan Hartman said. ‘‘You never really know what happens. It’s out of all of our control.

‘‘I’ve always enjoyed watching, seeing moves teams make around the league, kinda how the deadline works. I’ve seen it for a while. It’s no different this year. I’ll be watching, paying attention.”

But in the next breath, Hartman said he pays no attention to the rumors when asked if he thought about being traded.

“I don’t really pay attention to all the stuff that goes on or that people say,” he said.

“I love being here. I haven’t really thought of myself anywhere else. Just come in here ready to practice. When it’s game day, I come ready to play, and I don’t focus on that stuff at all.”

Forward Tomas Jurco knows what it’s like to be traded at the deadline.

Last season, the Hawks acquired him along with several other players in the hopes of making a deep playoff push.

Jurco was upset with his lack of ice time and requested a trade from the Red Wings last season.

“It finally happened last February,” Jurco said. “It was kind of a fresh start for me, but I haven’t really played many games here so far, so I still have some things to show.”

Jurco, who has only played in nine games this season, said his lack of ice time is disappointing.

“No one would be happy about it,” he said. “I gotta just work hard and make sure I bring something to the lineup every night.”

Jurco viewed the game Wednesday against the Senators as a chance to prove himself.

Coach Joel Quenneville paired him on a line with Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane.

It was a showcase for him, a chance to display his wares to other teams who might be interested in a trade with the Hawks.

Corey Crawford might be done for season

For the first time since Corey Crawford was put on the injured reserve with a head injury in December, Quenneville wasn’t “hopeful” that the veteran goalkeeper will play again this season.

“Going to say right now we’ll see on that one,” Quenneville said Wednesday. “Before we were. Where we’re at, his health’s going to dictate all that.”

When asked if it’s because of where the Hawks are at in the standings, Quenneville said: “That might be part of it. But once he gets healthy that’ll be the next decision.”

Crawford has participated in off-ice workouts, but he hasn’t been on the ice since the Hawks were in Arizona last week.

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