Blackhawks trade Kris Versteeg, Joakim Nordstrom to Hurricanes
The Chicago Blackhawks traded forwards Kris Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, the NHL announced.
The Blackhawks also dealt a third-round selection in the 2017 entry draft to the Hurricanes.
In exchange, Chicago received defensemen Dennis Robertson and Jake Massie, as well as a 2017 fifth-round pick, from Carolina.
The trade clears nearly $2.7 million in salary-cap space for the Blackhawks.
Versteeg and Nordstrom are the latest members of the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks to depart since their title-clinching victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning in June. Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya, Brad Richards, Antti Raanta and Kimmo Timonen also fled Chicago this off-season.
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Versteeg, 29, had 14 goals and 20 assists in 61 games for Chicago last season. The 23-year-old Nordstrom played in three playoff games and recorded three assists in 38 regular-season appearances.
Chicago’s newest additions, Robertson and Massie, each have no prior NHL experience. Robertson, 24, scored three goals and had 14 assists in 57 games for the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL last season. Massie, 18, was Carolina’s sixth-round selection in the 2015 draft.
The Blackhawks open the 2015–2016 season Oct. 7 against the New York Rangers.
- Kayla Lombardo