I will try to add a bit more detail on the deal when I get through to the end of a busy work day but wanted to put up quick thoughts and set up a placeholder for others to discuss.
The deal is:
--Canes get Kris Versteeg, Joakim Nordstrom and a 3rd round pick in 2017.
--Hawks get Dennis Robertson, Jake Massie and a 5th round pick in 2017.
Short version of my thoughts are:
1) This is a good get for Ron Francis and the Canes. Versteeg is not coming off the greatest season, but he is a veteran who at least potentially brings offense to the top 6 without a bunch of contract risk (only signed for 1 year at $2.2M).
2) I think you could make an argument that the Canes actually got paid to take him. --They traded up 2 rounds on a draft pick. --I view Robertson (older 24-year-old prospect who has yet to crack NHL) and Nordstrom (23-year old fringe AHL/NHL player who seems like a 4th-liner at best right now because of lack of offense) as a sideways trade that is breakeven and positive for the Canes who do not have enough NHL/AHL roster spots for all of their defensemen right now.
3) So maybe you could say that Jake Massie is the asset that the Canes gave up. He is a 2015 6th-rounder with no real track record yet. So the Hawks get a young prospect, but 6th-rounders do not have a ton of value and tend to be more like lottery tickets than projectable NHLers.
4) I think really what it came down to was that the Hawks still needed to cut salary to get Kruger in-house and the team under the cap and ideally gain a little bit of flexibility, so they had to do something.
All in all, this is a good low-risk, low-cost move for Francis that has some upside offensively which is where the Canes need help.
What say you? Do you like the deal? Do you think the Canes are now set heading into training camp or could Francis continue to shop on the cheap?
Matt Karash is a long-time passionate Hurricanes hockey fan, season ticket holder and also the founder of the Canes and Coffee web site.
Twitter=@CanesandCoffee
Go Canes!