The Chicago Blackhawks traded Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a major trade this week, acquiring Artem Anisimov, Marko Dano, Jeremy Morin, Corey Tropp and a fourth round pick in 2016 and this comes after the team had been shopping Patrick Sharp in a trade since the NHL draft last weekend.
Saad was set to be a restricted free agent once NHL free agency started on Wednesday and the Blackhawks were unable to reach an agreement with the winger. According to Bob McKenzie at TSN, the Blackhawks traded Saad to Columbus because the winger was looking for a six year deal at $6.5 million and might have been able to get it on the market. McKenzie writes that there "may" be a team out there that was willing to go for "those numbers."
The Blackhawks would have los Saad in restricted free agency most likely if they knew they were not going to do a deal that long or expensive. The team is coming off of a Stanley Cup championship, but there are numerous offseason issues to deal with and now Saad is one of those issues that is now complete. Saad would have commanded some attention and he was coming off of his three year deal into free agency as a restricted free agent.
The Blackhawks had a tight number on the cap before making the deal and that is ultimately why they did not meet the price for Saad. Saad is just 22-years-old and he comes in after scoring 23 goals this season and putting up 52 points. Saad played in 78 games two seasons ago and had 47 points and he is one of the more promising young players in the NHL. Throughout the season the team said they had hoped to keep Saad this summer and even in mid-June general manager Stan Bowman said that he was "confident" that the team would keep Saad.
The deal for the Blackhawks included Saad and Alex Broadhurst and defenseman Michael Paliotta going to the Blue Jackets. According to ESPN Chicago, the Blackhawks shopped Patrick Sharp heading into the NHL draft, but the team has "high" demands for a deal with the forward. The Blackhawks just made the move with Saad so they may pull back on Sharp, but he is a candidate to help the cap, as is signed for two years and has a near $6 million cap hit.
The New York Post reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins could be a potential landing spot for Sharp if he is traded. The Penguins are expected to make moves after another early playoff exit, but they likely have to trade someone to absorb the cap hit. According to the Detroit Free Press, Sharp could be a target for the Red Wings, as they are seeking a right handed winger this offseason. Sharp had 16 goals this season and 43 points, but those numbers were down from his 32 goals and 78 points in the previous year.
According to ESPN.com, Anisimov and Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a five-year, $22.75 million extension after the trade. According to Mark Lazerus, Saad said he was ago Saad was "a little shocked" at the deal, but said he realized "this is a business."
