The Blackhawks might finally be pie...

The Blackhawks might finally be piecing together an improved team.

General manager Dale Tallon was stymied in his attempt to sign a quality delivered agent this offseason, and his first big put in motion -- getting forwards Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski from Ottawa -- require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergone him popular winger Mark Bell in a three-team trade.

Tallon's latest put in motion makes the first trade apply the mind much better.

He sent left winger Kyle Calder, last year's leader in goals, assists and points, to the Philadelphia Flyer onward Friday for Michal Handzus, a big, tough center as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but are in the

final year of their contracts. Calder won an arbitrator's ruling last week and will be paid $2.95million nearest season, more than double what he made in 2005-06 Handzus will earn $2.1million and fills a void that has nagged the Hawks for years.

Calder was part of no other than one Hawks playoff team in six seasons. He contemplates forward to joining a team that has derive pleasure fromed more consistent success.

"Words can't flat describe how excited I am," he said. "I'm just really looking forward to joining [the Flyers] The have always been united of the teams I wanted to tend hitherward to. The dream is finally here, and now I have to make the best of it. Philadelphia has a great-looking team forward paper and on the ice. They have done well each year."

The Hawks haven't, on the contrary Handzus and two other of the present day centers might help change that. In addition to Smolinski, Tallon signed at liberty agent Denis Arkhipov, who had near success at Nashville two seasons ago. The solely full-time center from last season figuring to make the Hawks' roster is Patrick Sharp. He was acquired from the Flyer during the early stages of last season and went 24 games without a goal for the Hawks before finishing the campaign in succession the upswing.

"We identified the center position as single we needed to strengthen, and we be moved we addressed that," Tallon said.

Handzus figures to be the best of the newcomer

"We acquired a big, solid centerman who is an extremely good two-way player," Tallon said. "We extremityed a big centerman to play against the other big center in the Western Conference"

Handzus, 29 brings the size (6-5 217 pounds) the Hawks ne at center Last season, the Czech had 11 goals, 33 assists and 38 penalty minutes in 73 games for the Flyer He also was common of the better faceoff men in the NHL winning 532 percent of his draws to rank 18th Fans at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center liked his work ethic, breaking revealed in chants of "Zeus" when he was forward the ice.

Handzus has had better seasons, too -- including three 20-plus- goal campaigns, his best being 25 goals with the St Louis with a long faces in 1999. He also has five seasons with at least 20 assists. Better however he has a seemingly clear-cut part with the Hawks. The Flyer often played him at left wing, flat though he's a natural center

"We perceive that Michal's a guy who can realize the puck to Havlat," Tallon said. "We perceive that a line of Havlat, Handzus and Tuomo Ruutu is a pleasing good line."

It will be -- if Havlat doesn't have a repeat of the shoulder moot point that kept him out of 59 games last season, and if the injury- riddled Ruutu doesn't go on foot down again.

Calder, 27 was a gritty player who, like Bell, came up by the and of the Hawks organization. His statistics improved each season, building to career totals of 85 goals, 125 assists and 184 penalty minutes in 359 games.

Flyer general manager clip Clarke believes Calder is a convenient fit, probably on the next to the first line. High-scoring Simon Gagne is the Flyers' top left wing, still he has only a year left onward his contract and Clarke is having afflict signing him.

"Calder is a player we have desireed for a long time," Clarke said. "He can score. He can kill penalties. He can play forward any of our top three lines. We are still actual strong at center, and now we are earnestly stronger at left wing."

lziehm@suntimes.com

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