Motte eager for chance after trade

The trade made on Friday between the Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks likely will be remembered for the principal players involved. Chicago sent Artemi Panarin to Columbus for Brandon Saad, a swap of two highscoring left wingers.

But the trade took a few days to put together, apparently, because of the prospects who were involved.

The Blackhawks wanted a cheap backup goaltender, so they needed the Blue Jackets to part with Anton Forsberg, the organization’s No. 3 player at that position.

The Blue Jackets, who had just lost fourth-line center

William Karlsson in the expansion draft and could soon be parting ways with forwards Scott Hartnell (buyout) and Sam Gagner ( unrestricted free agent), were looking for forward depth and talent.

The Jackets wanted center Tyler Motte.

“I got a call from ( Blackhawks general manager) Stan Bowman saying they’ve been trying to get a deal done for a couple of days, and the only way it would go through was if I was a part of it,” Motte said.

“It’s exciting to hear that a team wants you on their roster. Columbus is a young team headed in the right direction, so I’m ready to get things rolling.”

Motte is not guaranteed anything, of course. The Blue Jackets’ have third- and fourth- line incumbents, with plenty of other young players that should make for fierce competition in training camp.

Center Pierre- Luc Dubois, the No. 3 overall pick last June, will be given a long look to make the roster. Right wing Markus Hannikainen signed a two- year, one- way contract last spring that strongly enhances his chance to make the roster.

And center Jordan Schroeder, acquired in another trade on Friday from Minnesota, has NHL experience dating back five seasons. He signed a two-year contract with the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The 2017-18 portion of the deal is a two-way contract; the 2018- 19 season is a one-way deal.

“I had the opportunity to talk with the (Blue Jackets) staff over the weekend at the draft, and they said I’d have an opportunity in training camp,” Motte said. “A guy in my spot, all you can ask for is a chance, and this feels like a good one.

“It’s up to me now to make it work.”

Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen didn’t want to pigeonhole Motte as a “bottomsix” forward, noting that he played on a dominating top line two years ago at the University of Michigan and spent time on the Blackhawks’ top line early last season with center Jonathan Toews and left wing Richard Panik.

One of those games was a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Oct. 21 in Nationwide Arena, in which Motte scored the first goal of his NHL career.

“That was my first taste of Columbus,” Motte said.

But the 5-foot-9, 188-pounder also enjoys the muck and grind aspects of the game. Good thing, because the Jackets will be looking for somebody to replace Karlsson on the top penalty-kill unit.

“I pride myself on being a 200-foot player, being able to play on both ends and in all situations,” Motte said. “Killing penalties is one of my favorite aspects of the game, because you’re a part of a turning point in the game.”