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2010 NHL Free Agency: Chicago Blackhawks trade Andrew Ladd to Atlanta

Andrew Ladd, Tomas Kopecky

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Tomas Kopecky (82), of Slovakia, hugs left wing Andrew Ladd (16) after the Blackhawks beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime to win Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey finals on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

AP

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to make moves in an effort to free up cap space, as they trade RFA Andrew Ladd to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for a draft pick and defensive prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy.

Ladd was given a qualifying offer by the Hawks late last week, but they just couldn’t afford to keep him given how tight their salary cap space has become.

In exchange, they acquire what should be a decent draft pick and what was once a promising prospect in Vishnevskiy.

As of right now, the Hawks have about $55 million locked up in 13 players, but it’s important to remember that thanks to player bonuses going onto next year’s cap they aren’t operating with the same high cap as everyone else.

More moves will have to be made. As of right now, the Hawks have lost several pieces of the depth that made them so great on their Stanley Cup run. This was expected however, especially after the moves Dale Tallon made last summer.

It’s a good thing they won the Cup when they did.