Bob Murray is at it again.
Just days after flipping Carl Hagelin to Pittsburgh for David Perron and Adam Clendening, the Ducks GM has made another move -- sending Jiri Sekac to Chicago in exchange for Ryan Garbutt.
Garbutt, 30, has two goals and six points for the ‘Hawks this year. A gritty, physical forward that plays with an edge -- he’s a frequent customer at the NHL’s Department of Player Safety -- he was part of the Patrick Sharp deal with Dallas this past offseason.
(Ironically, neither he nor the other piece the Stars sent for Sharp -- Trevor Daley -- are with the ‘Hawks anymore.)
So the #Blackhawks traded Patrick Sharp for Rob Scuderi and Jiri Sekac, essentially.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 21, 2016
Sekac, 23, is once again on the move.
After debuting with Montreal in ’14-15, he was acquired by the Ducks for Devante Smith-Pelly last season. Over the course of two years he played in 41 games for Anaheim, scoring three goals and 10 points.
Sekac is a skill guy, more perimeter-oriented, so you could chalk this trade up to Anaheim getting greasier, while the ‘Hawks add more talent up front. As for the money, Sekac makes $925,000 and is up at year’s end, while Garbutt pulls in $1.8M annually and is locked in through 2017.
(Dallas is retaining 50 percent of Garbutt’s salary, however.)
Finally, it’ll be curious to see what kind of reception Garbutt gets in Anaheim. He, of course, made waves two postseasons ago by spearing Corey Perry in the groin.