The NHLs Mar. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out todays trade-related reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates. Improving the Champs? Do the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks need to be even better? Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mark Lazerus spoke to Comcast Sportsnet and recalled last seasons acquisition of Michal Handzus and said, "I think just like last year (GM Stan Bowman will) be in the market for a center. I dont know if it will be quote-unquote a second-line center, but they do need some depth down at the middle," Lazerus told CSNs Pat Boyle. Lazerus said that the Blackhawks are currently carrying a surplus of defencemen and could use one potentially as trade bait. Bigger in Texas Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill spoke to Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News and discussed his teams ability, if they choose, to trade draft picks for roster players because the team has the cap space to allow such a deal. Nill would not get into player specifics, but Heika suggested in his article that pending unrestricted free agents Vernon Fiddler and Ray Whitney could be desirable to other clubs. Heika also noted that Sergei Gonchar, Erik Cole, and Shawn Horcoff each have one year left on their deals and with a rising salary cap, their manageable costs might be attractive to teams as well. Leaky Pipes The Minnesota Wild are struggling with injuries to both of their goalies, Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding. Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has talked trade with some teams, but the market is drying up with Devan Dubnyk and Ben Scrivens now off the board after they were moved last week. Russo says the team has talked internally about signing free agent Jose Theodore in case they need some insurance. Theodore is living in South Florida and has been working out throughout the season just in case a call comes. John Hannah Youth Jersey . She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. The Kyiv-born Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino. Andre Tippett Patriots Jersey .com) - Blake Griffin led five Clippers in double figures with 24 points and the LA Clippers got back on track with a 101-97 win over the Utah Jazz. http://www.shoptheofficialpatriots.com/E...atriots-Jersey/. Iwakuma pitched seven strong innings to stay unbeaten in road games since last July, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. Tedy Bruschi Jersey .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes hope to remain perfect at home in January on Friday night as they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to PNC Arena. John Hannah Womens Jersey . Its the games against the leagues struggling franchises that have proved to be an issue.BARCELONA, Spain -- Karim Benzema and Jese Rodriguez scored early to help Real Madrid ease to a 3-0 win at Getafe and restore a three-way tie for first place in the Spanish league on Sunday. Madrids win matched Barcelona and Atletico Madrids victories on Saturday to keep the trio level after 24 rounds, and 16 points clear of the nearest chaser Athletic Bilbao after it lost 2-1 to visiting Espanyol. With leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo serving the second of a three-game suspension, the 20-year-old Jese scored for a third straight round to get Madrid going in the fifth minute at Alfonso Perez Stadium. Benzema made it 2-0 from Angel Di Marias pass in the 27th, and midfielder Luka Modric added another goal from long range in the 66th. "The team played well from the start and the first goal made things easier for us at a ground that has always been difficult," Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez said. "We played in an effective manner knowing we needed to win." Also, Espanyol earned an entertaining win to deal Bilbao its first loss in 12 league games at its new San Mames Stadium, while Granada edged Real Betis 1-0 to leave the leagues bottom dweller 10 points from safety. Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves saved Ivan Rakitics 63rd-minute penalty kick in a 0-0 draw at Sevilla with his team playing with 10 men. Both teams were left level on points with Espanyol and Levante at 12 points from fourth place and the last Champions League spot. Getafe, which never threatened Madrid, remained winless in nine straight rounds and four points from the relegation zone. While Getafe hasnt won in the league since November, Madrid hasnt lost in 14 rounds going back to October. Madrid again proved that even without the reigning Ballon dOr winner in Ronaldo it has more than enough talent in its star-studded squad to keep winning against the Ligas middling teams. Behind Ronaldos league-leading tally of 22 goals, Benzema has scored 14 times in the league for Madrid this season, while Jese has managed five goals in what is becoming a breakthrough season for the young forward.dddddddddddd. Jese took Ronaldos spot on the left side of the attack and used his pace to take Gareth Bales pass, move the ball to his right foot, and flick a shot just inside the far post. Benzema doubled the lead when he chested down Di Marias lobbed pass on the break before driving it under goalkeeper Miguel Moya. Modric finished Getafe off by sending a long shot off the turf and past the diving Moya. Espanyol forward Sergio Garcia scored his 10th league goal of the season with a solo effort in the sixth. After Carlos Gurpegui levelled for Bilbao in the 56th, Espanyol defender Diego Colotto used his knee to deflect in Simao Sabrosas corner kick in the 65th for the winning goal. Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz was sent off with his second booking with three minutes left. "Athletic had more of the ball and pressed us, but we have our own playing style and are comfortable without the ball," Espanyol coach Javier Aguirre said. Aguirre said that with 34 points Espanyol was close to its goal of 42 points for the season, the mark it hopes will ensure it avoids the drop. Granada forward Francisco "Piti" Medina scored what proved to be the winner at Los Carmenes Stadium in the 31st when he controlled a long pass and slotted inside the post. Granada ended a three-game losing streak to move six points clear of the relegation zone. Both teams finished with 10 men after Granada substitute Dani Benitez got a straight red card for a bad foul on Jose "Nono" Delgado in the 79th, and Betis Antonio Amaya received his second booking in injury time. Betis is winless in 12 away league matches this season. It has one win and three losses under coach Gabriel Calderon, its third manager of the season. There were red cards too in the days goalless draw. Valencia defender Ricardo Costa sent off after two yellows in the 50th and Sevillas Denis Cheryshev was shown two yellow cards in injury time. Former Barcelona and Sevilla midfielder Seydou Keita debuted for Valencia when he came on as substitute. ' ' '