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Chicago trades Kris Versteeg to Toronto for Viktor Stalberg, prospects

Kris Versteeg

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Kris Versteeg falls to the ice but advances the puck during the first period of their NHL Hockey game Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

AP

The quiet before the free agency storm was broken tonight when the Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Kris Versteeg to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The trade breaks down like this:

Toronto obtains: Kris Versteeg (RW), Rights to Bill Sweatt (LW)

Chicago obtains: Viktor Stalberg (LW), Chris DiDomenico (C), Philippe Paradis (C)

The main piece here is, of course, Versteeg. Versteeg emerged the last two seasons in Chicago after once being a prospect of the Boston Bruins. The Bruins dealt Versteeg to Chicago infamously for journeyman forward Brandon Bochenski. The last two seasons with Chicago, Versteeg scored 22 goals in 08-09 and 20 goals last year finishing with 53 points in 08-09 and 44 points in 09-10. He’s a big time player and got caught up in the depth the Blackhawks had the last two seasons. He’ll get a chance to be a top six forward for the Maple Leafs and give Leafs opponents someone other than Phil Kessel to have to worry about.

Prospect Bill Sweatt just completed his final year at Colorado College last season where his four-year career line was 46 goals, 63 assists and 109 points. He was a 2007 second round pick by the Blackhawks.

The main piece going to Chicago in this package of youth is Viktor Stalberg. Stalberg in his first season out of the University of Vermont where he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist as a senior, was a training camp hero for the Leafs stunning everyone with his speed and offensive creativity. A lack of goal scoring finish doomed him early in the season and he was sent back to the AHL to work things out. Overall, he played in 40 games for the Leafs and had a scoring line of 9 goals, five assists and 14 points.

Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis were two Leafs prospects who have yet to make their mark in the professional ranks. DiDomenico played last season for Drummondville in the QMJHL. Paradis, meanwhile, was originally a Hurricanes first round pick in 2007 who was then traded to Toronto as part of the Jiri Tlusty trade. Paradis spent most of last year in the QMJHL with Shawinigan before playing a small handful of games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

The major implication on this deal for Chicago is the effect on their salary cap and according to the newly updated CapGeek.com, the Blackhawks are sitting in shockingly good shape now $8 million under the salary cap. The Hawks will still have some holes to fill on defense, but burying Cristobal Huet and his bloated salary in the AHL may not be totally necessary now. As for the Leafs and their cap situation, they’re sitting at $53 million with only forward help to absolutely worry about.