Blockbuster trade reunites Saad with Blackhawks
General manager Stan Bowman promised changes were coming after the Chicago Blackhawks were swept in the first round of the playoffs. He wasn’t kidding.
Chicago re-acquired Brandon Saad (from PineRichland High School) and parted with veteran defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and Artemi Panarin in two surprising trades Friday, giving the Blackhawks a younger look and more cost certainty for their roster.
Bowman traded forwards NHL notebook Panarin and Tyler Motte and Chicago’s sixthround selection in this draft to Columbus for Saad, goaltender Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round draft pick next year.
The deal was announced shortly after Hjalmarsson was traded to Arizona for two younger players — defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Laurent Dauphin.
Saad, 24, spent his first four seasons with Chicago, helping the Blackhawks win two Stanley Cup championships. He became a restricted free agent after the title run in 2015, and Bowman traded the rugged winger to the Blue Jackets when the sides could not agree on a new deal.
Saad had 24 goals and 29 assists in 82 games for Columbus last season.
Capitals
Washington re-signed right winger T.J. Oshie to a $46 million, eight-year contract. Oshie will count $5.75 million against the salary cap through the 2024-25 season. General manager Brian MacLellan announced the deal Friday just before the start of the NHL draft. Oshie was set to be an unrestricted free agent.
The 30-year-old forward tied Alex Ovechkin for the team lead with 33 goals last season. That was a career high
Coyotes
Arizona acquired center Derek Stepan and goalie Antti Raanta from the New York Rangers for defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in the draft. Stepan, 27, had 17 goals and 38 assists in 81 games with the Rangers last season.
Arizona has lacked a true top-line center for years and is hoping Stepan can fill that void.
Ducks
Forward Patrick Eaves agreed to a three-year, $9.45 million contract to stay with Anaheim after being a lateseason rental from Dallas. He fit right in with Anaheim, scoring 11 goals in 20 regular-season games alongside captain Ryan Getzlaf. His 32 combined goals for the Stars and Ducks were the most of his 12-year NHL career.