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The dominoes were lined up all summer and they finally fell yesterday, with Kris Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom heading off to the Carolina Hurricanes along with a 2017 3rd round pick for two sort of middling defense prospects, Dennis Robertson and Jake Massie, and a fifth round pick. Both are primarily offensive-defensemen, with Robertson having a bit more of a 2-way game and some pro experience with Charlotte in the AHL. Former Brown (ECAC) defender Robertson could be a 5-7 defenseman in the NHL at some point, with good size and a pretty fair overall game. If Robertson or Massie ever see the NHL, and/or the draft pick ever materialized as an NHL player, you would have to consider this salary dump deal a win for Chicago.
And, et voila, with salary cap money freed up, Marcus Kruger was also signed yesterday at a huge bargain $1.5 million for one year.
I have also heard that the Hawks may have another deal in the works (Bryan Bickell?) with the Hurricanes.
This is good news for the Hawks as it's solved a couple of fairly disconcerting roster problems, solidified Kruger, who in turn solidifies the Hawks in a couple of key areas, and diverts attention away from the ongoing Patrick Kane mess.
Stan (Bowman) "got 'er done," at least as far as a couple of minor but needed hockey moves.
I'll have more as I hear it,
JJ