Teams unafraid to wheel and deal

Big names change hands prior to weekend

Ein Chicago ven before the first name was called, before the first draft pick got to shake the hand of commissioner Gary Bettman, blockbuster trades dominated the 2017 draft weekend in Chicago.

In the 36 hours prior to the proceedings kicking off at the United Center, Artemi Panarin, Brandon Saad, Derek Stepan and Jordan Eberle had all change addresses.

As Vegas Golden Knights GM George McPhee predicted two weeks ago: “This could be one of the craziest times we’ve seen in the game.”

As such, here’s a breakdown of the significant deals at draft weekend. F Derek Raanta Stepan, G Niklas Hjalmarsson Antti 2017 1st-Round Pick, D Anthony DeAngelo

Say this for the Coyotes: No team has been busier in the week leading up to the draft, aside from the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. In one week, GM John Chayka traded goalie Mike Smith to Calgary, bid adieu to longtime face-ofthe-franchise Shane Doan, and parted ways with coach Dave Tippett. Then, as part of the franchise makeover, he brought in Raanta and Stepan, an indication they are being proactive in their rebuild.

In Chayka’s words: “Derek Stepan is a No. 1 centre and that’s something this franchise has been looking for for more than a decade.” Raanta, meanwhile, can immediately step in for the departed Smith. Good deal for the Coyotes. As for the Rangers, they’ve now lost two centres in three days, with Oscar Lindberg taken by the expansion Golden Knights Wednesday.

F Artemi Panarin, F Tyler Motte, 2017 6th-Round pick. F Brandon Saad, G Anton Forsberg, 2018 5th-Round pick

Blockbuster alert. Saad started his career with the Blackhawks. but spent the past two seasons with the Blue Jackets, having been acquired in a 2015 deal that sent Artem Anisimov to Chicago. He’s back, but the price was huge. In Panarin, the Jackets get an electrifying goal-scorer who was the rookie of the year in 2015-16. “Artemi Panarin was the best rookie in the NHL two years ago, a second team all-star this past season and is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL,” Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said.

Both Panarin and Saad carry a US$6million cap hit, but Saad is signed through 2020-21, two years longer than Panarin. In the short term, Columbus gets the nod here, landing a sniper who’s scored 61 goals over the past two seasons.

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