"The deal isn't done, but it's close. Goalie Cristobal Huet soon will be off the Blackhawks' books.

On the day the Hawks introduced veteran goalie Marty Turco, general manager Stan Bowman addressed multiple reports regarding the near-deal that will loan Huet to Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss League.

''We're still working on that,'' Bowman said Tuesday at the United Center. ''Nothing is finalized yet. I don't have any new news to report. It's looking like that's a possibility. Hopefully it will work out for him and for us, but it's not finalized yet.''

The potential deal would free up more than $5 million in salary-cap space. The Hawks, though, always have been operating as though Huet's cap hit wouldn't be a factor. Earlier this summer, they had granted Huet's camp permission to explore other options."