Cote

Chicago gave up a second-round draft pick in 2001 and future considerations for Cote, a veteran of 959 NHL games who can help fill the void left by holdout defenseman Boris Mironov.

The Blackhawks missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons after reaching the postseason for 28 straight years. They made wholesale changes during the summer of 1998 and throughout last season, including replacing coach Dirk Graham with Lorne Molleken, but have lost their first two games this year.

Cote, 33, will help try to turn the tide. He has collected 104 goals and 265 assists during his 16-year NHL career with Hartford, Washington and Toronto, adding another 30 points in 74 playoff contests. He had one assist in three games with Toronto this season.

But the Blackhawks are more hopeful that Cote will help stop the bleeding for a defensive unit that has already surrendered 12 goals.

They opened the season with a 7-1 loss at San Jose, during which an altercation resulted in a four-game suspension for left wing Bob Probert and a three-game ban for defenseman Dave Manson.