Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Champion Blackhawks trade Saad in seven-player deal

Brandon Saad of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates a third period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game Three of the Stanley Cup Final at the United Center on June 8, 2015 in ChicagoBrandon Saad, a 22-year-old left wing who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win two of the past three National Hockey League titles, was traded Tuesday to Columbus in a seven-player deal.
The Blackhawks, who defeated Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final earlier this month, sent Saad, defenseman Michael Paliotta and forward Alex Broadhurst to the Blue Jackets for forwards Artem Anisimov, Jeremy Morin, Corey Tropp and Marko Dano plus a 2016 NHL Draft fourth-round selection.
"We're very excited to bring Brandon Saad -- a two-time Stanley Cup champion with great size, speed, power and the ability to score goals -- to our organization," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He's a proven winner and exactly the kind of player we want."
Saad had an NHL career-best 23 goals and set up 29 others over 82 games this season, but contributed eight goals in the Blackhawks' playoff title run. He had 52 goals over four seasons with Chicago, which ensured getting a return on the talented playmaker. Saad becomes a restricted free agent if not signed by Wednesday.
Austrian Dano, 20, was a 2013 first-round pick of the Blue Jackets with had eight goals this season. Russia's Anisimov, 27, had seven goals this season while Morin, a 24-year-old American, had been traded by Chicago to Columbus last December for defenseman Tim Erixon.
American Paliotta, 22, made his pro debut with the Blackhawks in April while Broadhurst, 22, spent the season with Chicago's top developmental team.

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