The Chicago Blackhawks traded forwards Kris Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom and a 2017 third-round draft pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for defensemen Dennis Robertson and Jake Massie and a 2017 fifth-round draft pick on Friday.
Versteeg, 29, had 14 goals and 20 assists in 61 games for the Blackhawks last season. The Blackhawks acquired Versteeg from the Florida Panthers in November 2013. The Blackhawks and Panthers were each paying half of his $4.4 million cap hit. The Hurricanes will continue to pay half of Versteeg's cap hit. He has one year remaining on his contract.
"I'm super excited," Versteeg said, according to the Hurricanes' website. "I see the talents and everyone they have on the team, and it makes me really excited to come there and help contribute."
The trade allowed the Blackhawks, who had been looking to clear cap space, to agree to a one-year deal with restricted free-agent forward Marcus Kruger.
The deal is worth $1.5 million, according to a source.
Nordstrom, 23, had three assists in 38 games for the Blackhawks last season. He recently re-signed with the Blackhawks on a one-year deal.
Robertson, 24, had three goals and 14 assists in 57 games for the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL last season. He was originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round in 2011.
Massie, 18, will play for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL this season. He was drafted by the Hurricanes in the sixth round in 2015.
Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said the trade helps solidify the team's future.
"We're trying to build here for the long term," Francis said. ""I think some of the things we've done with him and [James] Wisniewski and [Eddie Lack], there's a little personality and experience to those guys. You bring that in, especially with what we're building here with our young players, and it's a good fit," Francis said. "It never hurts to have guys that have been there and been successful to be around your players.
