Chicago Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon likely had a feeling of déjà vu while watching his Blackhawks play Phoenix this past Wednesday night. After Martin Havlat seemingly fell harmlessly to the ice, the talented winger left the game with his arm dangling to his side after suffering yet another injury to his fragile right shoulder. The exact same scenario played itself out during the team's season opener back in October. Since that first injury, the Martin Havlat Question was simmering below the surface for Tallon and Co. The nagging what-do-we-do feeling came to a boiling point on Wednesday night, Chicago's first game following the trade deadline.

In the aftermath of Havlat's first injury, the right winger opted against likely season-ending surgery, instead choosing to rehab his shoulder and return to the lineup wearing a harness. Twenty-two games later, Havlat returned with a bang. He lit the lamp twice, including a mere 43 seconds into his return, on the way to a 5-1 victory over Tampa Bay.

The 26-year-old Czech native lasted another ten games after his two-goal return against Tampa Bay, tallying three goals and six assists in that time, before missing six games with a groin injury. Havlat remained in the lineup another 23 games before he succumbed to the aforementioned shoulder injury last Wednesday against Phoenix. Even before Wednesday’s injury, Havlat didn’t look 100% on the ice and only managed 27 points in 35 games.

Havlat’s two years in Chicago will amount to $12 million earned for only 91 games of service. With Havlat in the lineup, the young Blackhawks accumulated a 16-16-3 record for 35 points in 35 games. Without him, Chicago has gone 15-12-3 for 33 points in 30 games. Even if the solution is to trade Havlat, his value could be so low due to injuries that the Blackhawks may be better off keeping him and hoping he stays healthy. With one year remaining at $6 million, properly addressing the Martin Havlat Question is paramount to the Blackhawks’ success this summer.

The Week Ahead

After getting embarrassed in Dallas 7-4 last Thursday, the Blackhawks finished the week on a high note with a dominating 4-1 victory over Vancouver at the United Center on Sunday. The victory gave Chicago a four-game home winning streak and eight wins in the team’s last 12 games overall, keeping the team in 12th place in the conference and six points out of the last playoff spot.

The average age of the 18 skaters in Chicago’s Sunday lineup was 21.7 with less than 128 games of NHL experience. Injuries were a partial reason for so many youngsters, as rookie Dave Bolland joined veterans Nikolai Khabibulin, Robert Lang, Brent Sopel, Andrei Zyuzin, and Havlat in the press box with various injuries. Bolland looks to be the only player ready to return for the Blackhawks’ next game on Tuesday in Minnesota. Additionally, center Jonathan Toews required 50 stitches to his mouth from a high hit on Sunday afternoon but he is expected to stay in the lineup.

If the Blackhawks are serious about making a playoff push, this week may be the determining factor. Beginning Tuesday night, Chicago will play three games in four nights against Western Conference playoff teams before finishing the week at home against Edmonton on Sunday. Six points likely is the minimum result needed for the Blackhawks to remain in the playoff hunt.