As the trade deadline approached, numerous reports suggested that the Chicago Blackhawks were on the verge of acquiring star forward Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning. But instead, it turned out to be the Dallas Stars who swooped in, sending goalie Mike Smith, center Jeff Halpern, and winger Jussi Jokinen to Tampa in exchange for Richards and goaltender Johan Holmqvist. And now, with Richards in the fold, the Stars must be considered legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. Check out this intriguing match-up between two trade deadline rivals in brilliant 1080i on HDNet, live at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Blackhawks to Watch

The big story in the Windy City this winter has been the play of two stellar youngsters, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Kane leads the Blackhawks with 52 points in 62 games, and his combination of elite-level playmaking ability and superb on-ice vision make him one of the game's most exciting players to watch. Able to create at top speed, Kane has made it abundantly clear that the 'Hawks were right to select him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Meanwhile, Toews has been a sensational two-way player for the 'Hawks, tallying 42 points in 44 games while posting a very impressive plus-10 rating. Toews missed some time earlier this year with a knee injury, and the struggles the 'Hawks faced in his absence were a clear indication of just how valuable he's already become to this team. Toews' playing style is similar to that of former Red Wings All-Star Steve Yzerman, and if he continues on his sensational upward trajectory, the 'Hawks' days of disappointment will soon be over.

Another import cog in the Blackhawks' machine is talented forward Martin Havlat. With only 27 points in 34 games, he hasn't performed to expectations thus far this season, but his recent play (10 points in his last 12 games, plus-three rating) is a good indication that he's starting to heat up a bit. There were numerous rumors that he might be dealt in advance of the deadline, but GM Dave Tallon wisely decided to retain Havlat, one of the game's most talented gamebreakers.

The 'Hawks didn't land Richards, but they did make a seemingly minor move at the deadline that could pay huge dividends, sending Tuomo Ruutu to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Andrew Ladd. Ruutu hadn't been performing to expectations in Chicago, while Ladd has really come on in recent weeks for the Hurricanes (nine points in nine games, plus-10 rating). All indications are that Ladd will be a mainstay on one of the 'Hawks' top two lines, while Ruutu clearly needs a change of pace if he's to reach his enormous potential. The move is a great one by Tallon, who recognized that the window to get fair value for Ruutu was closing rapidly.

Stars to Watch

The Stars are the NHL's second-best team with a bullet, quickly gaining ground on the Red Wings in the standings despite having to make do without top defenseman Sergei Zubov (foot surgery). The key to the team's success has been the play of star netminder Marty Turco, who dispelled all notions that he wasn't a big-game goalie with his stellar performance in last spring's playoffs. Turco is incredibly athletic, and has worked very hard in recent years to improve his positioning. The results are unquestionable, and if the Stars are to battle their way to the Stanley Cup this spring, Turco will be the biggest key to their success.

The biggest surprise in Dallas this season has been the play of dynamic forward Mike Ribeiro. Acquired for Janne Niinimaa last October, Ribeiro has emerged as the Stars' best forward, tallying 73 points in 64 games while posting a team-leading plus-21 rating (he's tied with captain Brenden Morrow). Meanwhile, Niinimaa is no longer playing in the NHL, making it one of the finest moves of GM Doug Armstrong's regime. Armstrong was fired earlier this season, with Brett Hull and Les Jackson taking over. Given the Stars' sensational play this season, it's clear that Armstrong deserved a better fate, for the team he built has been the NHL's finest over the past two months.

Of course, no discussion of the Stars would be complete without an assessment of new arrival Richards. A dynamic skater with a booming shot and well-above-average playmaking ability, he was stagnating a bit on the Lightning, largely because the team's most talented skaters were concentrated on Vincent Lecavalier's line. In Dallas, look for Richards to break out, scoring at better than a point-per-game pace and perhaps being a huge difference-maker for the Stars in the postseason. During the Lightning's 2004 run to the Stanley Cup, it was Richards--not Lecavalier or Martin St. Louis--who was the team's best player, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Look for him to be similarly clutch for the Stars down the stretch and in the playoffs.

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