Motte a Michigan teammate of Werenski’s

CHICAGO — Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and his staff saw Tyler Motte filling the nets for the University of Michigan a few years ago while keeping tabs on then-prospect Zach Werenski.

Werenski is now thriving in Columbus. The Jackets hope that his former college teammate can do the same.

The Blue Jackets acquired Motte, a 5-foot9, 193-pound center, from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday as part of the Artemi PanarinBrandon Saad trade. Motte, 22, will arrive at training camp with a shot at winning a third- or fourth-line role after the club lost William Karlsson to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.

“We think he has great potential,” Kekalainen said of Motte.

A fourth-round pick in the 2013 draft, Motte made the Blackhawks out of training camp last season and started brightly, recording three goals and three assists in the first 13 games. He suffered a left-leg injury on Nov. 6 and didn’t manage a point in 14 games after he returned to the lineup.

Motte was dispatched to Chicago’s minor-league affiliate in Rockford, where he scored 10 goals and added six assists.

Ed Olczyk, who serves as a television analyst for NBC and the Blackhawks, occasionally watched Motte play at Michigan, where he scored 32 goals in the 2015-16 season. The broadcaster thinks Motte can be a good role player in the NHL.

Olczyk was impressed that Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville used Motte as a penalty-killer coming out of the training camp as a rookie.

“That told me, ‘This kid must be a pretty smart player,’” Olczyk said. “I think there is a lot of upside there. I really do.”

Jackets acquire depth forward

The Blue Jackets also made a minor trade Friday, acquiring center Jordan Schroeder from the Minnesota Wild for Dante Salituro.

Schroeder, 26, spent the past three seasons splitting time between the Wild and its minorleague affiliate. The 2009 first-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks has never played a complete season in the NHL.

The 5-foot-9, 176-pound forward registered 11 goals and 25 points in 88 games for the Wild over parts of three seasons.

Salituro, 20, played for London of the Ontario Hockey League last season.

Busy day for Jackets

The Blue Jackets were quiet Friday night, with no picks in the draft's first round for only the second time in franchise history. Barring a trade, they won’t pick until Saturday in the third round.

They head into the second day of the draft with the following picks: 86, 117, 148, 170 (from Chicago), 179, and 210.

Long wait over?

Powell native Carson Meyer has waited a long time to hear his name called at an NHL draft. The wait should end Saturday afternoon, as the 20-year-old forward is attracting interest from numerous clubs.

The Jackets are believed to be one of five teams that have the Miami University 25 5 feet 11, 170 pounds

One of the top playmakers and point producers in the NHL since he left Russia two seasons ago. … In his first 162 NHL games, he has 61 goals and 90 assists. … The way he bobs, weaves and toe-drags will conjure memories of former Jackets forward Nikolai Zherdev. … Signed for two more seasons at $6 million per season.

26 5 feet 9, 184 pounds

Has yet to spend a full season in the NHL, splitting time with AHL affiliates with both Minnesota and Vancouver. … Not physically imposing but can pull away with his speed. His offensive polish shows in the AHL but hasn’t transferred to the NHL yet.

sophomore on their radar. This is the third year that Meyer has been draft-eligible. He had 10 goals and 16 assists in 32 games for the RedHawks as a freshman.

Like father, like son

Former Blue Jackets captain Adam Foote was at the United Center on Friday night to see his son, Callan, selected No. 14 overall by the 22 5 feet 9, 188 pounds

A skillful, highenergy player who, despite his modest size, will compete hard along the wall and in corners. … Opened last season with Chicago and spent time on the Blackhawks No. 1 line but suffered a left leg injury and was never the same. … Friend of Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, a former teammate at the University of Michigan.

Tampa Bay Lightning. Adam Foote was a rugged defender; his son possesses more offensive skill and could blossom into a first-pair defenseman.

Callan Foote collected six goals and 51 assists last season for Kelowna of the Western Hockey League.