Blackhawks trade Panarin to Blue Jackets for Saad
UNDATED (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have re-acquired forward Brandon Saad in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, parting with top young forward Artemi Panarin (ahr-TEH’-mee pah-NAH’-rihn) to complete the blockbuster deal. Panarin teamed with Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov to form one of the NHL’s most potent lines the past couple seasons.
Saad spent his first four seasons with Chicago, helping the Blackhawks win two Stanley Cups, before being traded to the Blue Jackets when he became a restricted free agent in 2015. He had 24 goals and 29 assists in 82 games for Columbus last season.
The Blackhawks also received goaltender Anton Forsberg and a 2018 fifth-round draft pick in Friday’s trade in exchange for forwards Panarin and Tyler Motte and Chicago’s sixth-round selection on Saturday.
In other NHL news:
— The Washington Capitals have 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 just before the start of the NHL draft. Oshie was set to be an unrestricted free agent.
— The Arizona Coyotes have acquired defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (JAL’-mahr-suhn) in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. The 30-year-old has spent his entire 10-year career with Chicago, helping the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles. The Blackhawks received defensemen Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin in Friday’s trade. The Coyotes also acquired center Derek Stepan and goalie Antti Raanta (AHN’-tee RAHN’-tuh) from the New York Rangers for defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft. The trade comes a day after Arizona announced that coach Dave Tippett was out after eight seasons.
— The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired center Jordan Schroeder in a trade with the Minnesota Wild. In exchange for the 26-year-old Schroeder, the Wild on Friday got minor-league center Dante Salituro.
— The Los Angeles Kings have bought out the final year of defenseman Matt Greene’s contract. Greene has been with the Kings since 2008, but has played in only 29 games over the past two seasons due to serious injuries. He went on injured reserve Jan. 30 and had back surgery. Greene had a four-year, $10 million contract extension that began in 2014. The buyout turns his $2.5 million cap hit next season into an $833,333 hit in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
— Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill has all but given up on signing goalie prospect Cal Petersen. Botterill tells reporters he expects the former Notre Dame star to pursue free agency at the end of next week. The Sabres had 30 days to sign their 2013 fifth-round draft pick once he announced on May 31 that he was forgoing the final year of college eligibility. Petersen led the Fighting Irish to their third Frozen Four appearance in April and was one of five finalists for the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s top goalie.