One of the worst-kept secrets in the NHL is that the Chicago Blackhawks need to move a contract or two. They need to create some space, not only for tagging purposes for next year, but it would be nice for this season as well, in the event there is a last-minute acquisition that can be made.

Now, the names that have been batted around in trade rumors are the same ones, over and over...Brent Sopel, Cam Barker, Kris VERSTEEG!, Dustin Byfuglien and, yes ladies, Patrick Sharp.

The basic idea is simple. Move one of these players with their multi-year deals and get a player who has a contract expiring at the end of the season. Since the Hawks have actually managed to finagle a little cap space from the Skille Shuffle (whether it was Skille, Dowell, or Bickell), they can really afford to do a dollar-for-dollar for the remainder of the season.

Logic dictates that if they move Sopel or Barker, they get a defenseman in return. If they move a forward, the ideal pickup would be a center who could fill in for Dave Bolland until he returns from his surgery for Old Man Back. I'm also looking at teams that are in the crapper for the season, and focusing on the Eastern Conference, since Western Conference teams might not be as eager to help the Hawks.

Let's take a look at some possibilities:

DEFENSEMEN:

There are two tiers of defensemen the Hawks can shop for, depending on who they decide to move. If Sopel is their bargaining chip, they need to slot someone into his $2.33 million/year salary. If they decide they can live without Cam Barker, they get a shade over $3 million/per to play with.

ANDY SUTTON, ISLANDERS ($3 million/year, UFA after season) - He's a big, physical defenseman, but he hasn't played a full season in a few years. He's been healthy this season, although he's currently nursing a sore groin. He'd become the Hawks' largest defenseman, and the Islanders would definitely put Barker in their top 4.

JOE CORVO, HURRICANES ($2.75 million/year, UFA after season) I've been beating the Corvo drum to death. This Chicago native actually chews up more minutes per night than Duncan Keith. He makes less than Barker and could bring his righthanded shot to the Hawks' power play, hopefully putting a bullet in the head of the idiotic notion of keeping forwards on the point during PPs.

DENNIS SEIDENBERG, PANTHERS ($2.25 million/year, UFA after season) Another former Hurricane. He'd be a nice trade-off for Sopel for the remainder of the season. He's another defenseman with power play experience, which is a huge plus.

PAUL MARA, CANADIENS ($1.675 million/year, UFA after season) He's not great, but it would give the Hawks some cap space, and tagging space from last season. He could replace Sopel as the big galoot on the third pair.

FORWARDS:

SLAVA KOZLOV, THRASHERS ($3.66 million/year, UFA after season) Not sure if Kozlov has a no-trade clause or not, but a veteran left winger like Kozlov would certainly give the Hawks some extra firepower for the Cup push. If the trade was a one-for-one, it would cost Sharp.

MATT CULLEN, HURRICANES ($2.75 million/year, UFA after season) Sassone threw his name out first, and it makes a lot of sense. He would be an even trade for any of the forwards the Hawks, ad he'd solve the second-line center problem.

DOUG WEIGHT, ISLANDERS ($2.2 million/year, UFA after season) Weight is a million years old, but he could also fill the second-line center void until Bolland returns, and give the Hawks another veteran forward for the playoff push.

MATT STAJAN, MAPLE LEAFS ($1.75 million/year, UFA after season) Not great, but cheap. Another center, he could at least fill in until Bolland returns, then the Hawks could either put him on the fourth line or slide him over to a wing spot.

There are some other players, but these are the ones who jump out at me. Of course, having spent the time to go through pending free agents, looking at salaries and this season's performances, I'm positive that Stan Bowman will go get someone else.