Stanley Cup champion teams like the Chicago Blackhawks would be expected to keep the players that they find for the good benefit of the team. Apparently, the Blackhawks thought that Kris Versteeg was not one of their good benefits. A multiplayer deal was finalized when the Blackhawks traded their young gun Versteeg to the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with several players. According to Stan Bowman, the GM of the Blackhawks, that was the game they were in today. With the free agent period coming up today at noon, it looked like he had to make several moves in order to free up salary cap space for new players. The trade of Dustin Byfuglien and Cam Barker to the Atlanta Thrashers was one of those trades to free up the space. Now, with all the Blackhawks have been doing, will it help their team or downgrade their team? I'm not sure it's going to downgrade their team. The Versteeg trade might hurt them in the long run but Patrick Kane, Antti Niemi, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa will surely keep this team on its feet, heading into the free agency period and another season. So Stan Bowman might not shot himself in the foot a little bit for trading away a few great players, but I doubt he did anything to completely lose this team after winning the Stanley Cup.
I'm sure Kris Versteeg is surprised he's no longer on the Chicago Blackhawks. Months of watching him, you'd think he was on the Chicago Blackhawks for good, but no. The Maple Leafs acquired him and looking at him, he will help a Maple Leafs team that had a terrible start to the season and never recovered. The Maple Leafs are hoping he can bring something this season that will help them get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Well, more and more moves could be coming for the Blackhawks. I don't believe it's the end of a wallop of trades for them. The free agency period comes up at noon ET and don't be surprised if the Blackhawks have to make a few more moves to get the players they want on their team.
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