The Chicago Blackhawks don't have a ton of salary cap flexibility, but that apparently doesn't preclude them from being buyers before the trade deadline.

"There's no question the Chicago Blackhawks are very aggressively trying to pursue a left winger to play on that top line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa," TSN's Bob McKenzie reported on Thursday night's "Insider Trading."

The Blackhawks are eyeing a rental player for financial reasons, according to McKenzie. Chicago has about $3 million in cap space and is projected to have about $3.8 million on deadline day, according to General Fanager.

McKenzie suggests several players who haven't yet been made available, including Andrew Ladd of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes forward Mikkel Boedker, Loui Eriksson of the Boston Bruins, and "perhaps" Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal.

Andrew Shaw has occupied the first-line left winger role for much of the season and he's been effective lately, notching two goals and four assists in his last four games.