Source: Hawks trade Byfuglien

[A.E]

Source: Hawks trade Byfuglien

The Chicago Blackhawks made a blockbuster trade with the Thrashers on Wednesday, the Stanley Cup champions moving Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel and a prospect to Atlanta for a first-round pick, a second-round pick, prospect Jeremy Morin and veteran forward Marty Reasoner, a source told ESPN.com.

The first- and second-round picks that Chicago gets in the deal were acquired by Atlanta in the trade that sent Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey last February.

The prospect Atlanta is getting from Chicago is Akim Aliu.

The deal is pending a call to the league for approval. The Blackhawks have not confirmed the trade.

"It is what it is," Byfuglien said on "The Afternoon Saloon" on ESPN 1000. "It's part of the job. You're not going to stick in one spot the whole time so I've got to go."

The Blackhawks were in dire need to get rid of salary as new contract extensions for Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith next season put them in a major salary-cap crunch. The Hawks save just over $5 million in cap space with the trade.

Byfuglien has one year left on his contract paying him $3 million, which is also his cap hit. Sopel has one year left on his deal at $2 million although his cap hit is $2.3 million. Eager is a restricted free agent who earned $965,000 this past season, so retaining his rights would have cost at least that much. The only salary the Hawks get back is Reasoner, who has one more year left on his contract at $1.2 million and his cap hit is $1.15 million.

The Hawks will still have decisions to make on whether to keep the relatively high salaries of forwards Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg.

Byfuglien was a major force in the Hawks' run to the Cup, switching from defense to forward to fill needs with the team. His work in front of the net was a big part of dispatching the Canucks and Sharks in the postseason.

He battled Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger continuously in the Cup finals. He broke through with two goals and two assists in Game 5.

Byfuglien finished with 17 goals and 17 assists in the 2009-10 regular season. He had a career-high 19 goals in 2007-08. Eager posted seven goals and nine assists in 60 games. Sopel was only a plus-3 for the season but was a big part of the Hawks' penalty kill, especially late in the regular season and the playoffs.

Reasoner had four goals and 13 assists, his 11th season in the league.

Pierre LeBrun covers the NHL for ESPN.com.

 

[A.E]

Wow...this deal leaves me almost speechless. The Hawks have no choice but to part with salary this offseason but Byfuglien!?! A move to 1st line wing totally changed the face of their offense and a huge reason why they will hoist another banner.

I stick to my idea of shopping Sharp w/Huet. Find a way to get rid of Huet and the Hawks would only need to part with Sharp or Versteeg.

Great deal for Atlanta, one of those moves I felt needed to be made in order to attract attention back to the team. Byfuglien is easily becoming one of the most popular players in the game and will be a huge draw for the Thrashers. Sopel and Eager also add solid depth and Eager is getting better each time he touches the ice.

 

[Mooche]

Wow, this move is still a shocker. I can't see Big Buff playing in anywhere but Chicago. It's a nice move for ATL as they get a wicked grinder who brings a good physical side to the game.

 

[playmaker7]

Great move for the Thrashers and their new core is looking very good IMO

Little, Byfuglien, Kane, Bergfors, Oduya, Bogosian, Pavelec

Pretty dope IMO

 

[snipezo]

Great move for the Thrashers and their new core is looking very good IMO

Little, Byfuglien, Kane, Bergfors, Oduya, Bogosian, Pavelec

Pretty dope IMO

Don't forget Cormier. He obviously did an awful thing but he still has a potential to be a nice power forward.

 

[The Guid]

wow, definitely not looking forward to seeing Buff more against the Bruins. Great move by Atlanta.

 

[The Guid]

also good news for Thrashers, Craig Ramsay will be named head coach. LOVE Rammer and all the guys loved him here too. He should do well in ATL and I wish him the best.

 

[playmaker7]

Don't forget Cormier. He obviously did an awful thing but he still has a potential to be a nice power forward.

Yeah the re-build process is going really nice for the Thrashers. It'll be interesting to see how this team comes together, including with the upbringing of players from the AHL and juniors, in the future. Like, I didn't expect for Atlanta to make the necessary moves to build a team that actually looks to be really stable in the future.

They say they're not done making moves either

 

[A.E]

Ultimately, this deal ended up:

TO ATLANTA: F Dustin Byfuglien, D Brent Sopel, F Ben Eager and F Akim Aliu

TO CHICAGO: 24th overall pick, 54th overall pick, F Marty Reasoner, F Jeremy Morin, and F Joey Crabb.

 

[snipezo]

Yay!!! He's out of west.

 

[dcpwner]

does no one understand that he didnt really have a great regular season? Sure he stepped it up in the playoffs, but his stock will never be higher IMO. I don't see him being that much help besides down low, which is okay for the hawks and the speed game i believe we are trying to move to.

 

[snipezo]

He's not that big of a loss imo. Don't get me wrong, the Hawks will miss him. He was a huge presence in front of the net but the Hawks have craploads of nhl ready prospects that can replace him.

 

[A.E]

does no one understand that he didnt really have a great regular season? Sure he stepped it up in the playoffs, but his stock will never be higher IMO. I don't see him being that much help besides down low, which is okay for the hawks and the speed game i believe we are trying to move to.

Who said anything about him having a great regular season? I think most of us are well aware of the fact that Bufuglien didn't do jack until he moved to forward, about what? 3/4 of the way through the season.

 

[footballplaya52]

AE that evander kane sig is dope

 

[dcpwner]

i think it was at least 1/2. But yeah, if he needs to be around playmakers and scorers like kane and toews to be effective. IMO. Not a HUGE loss, and yeah we have a couple good prospects right now to replace him.

 

[A.E]

i think it was at least 1/2. But yeah, if he needs to be around playmakers and scorers like kane and toews to be effective. IMO. Not a HUGE loss, and yeah we have a couple good prospects right now to replace him.

He's a huge loss when you consider match-ups. Byfuglien being what he is gave the Blackhawks some much needed muscle on the forecheck in the post-season. Certainly played a huge role in the finals, against a team as physical as the Flyers.