Don't want to create something out of nothing, but it's official: long-time NHL sniper Brendan Shanahan is available.  Let the courting begin.

The Hawks were rumored to be interested in Shanny (Red Wing from 1996-2006) when he was an unrestricted free agent the summer of '06, but he opted to sign with the New York Rangers.

With the departure of veteran Robert Lang, the Hawks could certainly use a stabling, experienced presence in the locker room.  Shanahan is 39 years old, but he still produced 46 points (23g, 23a) last year and 62 points (29g, 23a) the year before.  He can still play the game.  And he leads by example.

He was ousted out of the Rangers plans due to salary cap woes.  And logically-speaking, that salary cap is also the reason he wouldn't come to Chicago.

But say the Hawks finally deal one of their goaltenders to free up cap space, and all of a sudden signing Shanny is a realistic option.  They'd be silly to not at least talk to him.

From the New York Post today:

Nearly four months after becoming a free agent, Shanahan is putting himself onto the open market.

"I've told [agent] Rick [Curran] that I can no longer wait and that
it's time to move on," Shanahan told The Post yesterday afternoon.

"Until now, Rick has been under instructions to tell inquiring teams that my focus was on re-signing with the Rangers, and that I was not accepting any other offers.

"That has changed."

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