Reunited and it feels so good, at least for the Chicago Blackhawks: Andrew Ladd is returning to the team he won a 2010 Stanley Cup with.
The Blackhawks traded for Ladd on Thursday, giving up the following reported package to the Winnipeg Jets: Marko Dano, a first-round pick and also a conditional draft choice.
That specific update comes from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and other reporters.
Ladd to #Blackhawks confirmed. Dano and two picks, including a first-rounder.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 26, 2016
That conditional pick could end up being a third-rounder in 2018, apparently:
TSN’s Darren Dreger indicates that the Jets retained a significant chunk of Ladd’s salary:
Marlo Dano, 1st in 2016 and a conditional for Ladd, Harrison and Fraser. Wpg retains 36% of Ladd's remaining salary.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 26, 2016
Update: The Blackhawks confirmed the trade, and it appears that Matt Fraser and Jay Harrison were also part of the package sent to Chicago.
#tbt pic.twitter.com/R4EtKRdWDo
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 26, 2016
Blackhawks’ perspective
Ladd is a classic rental: his $4.4 million cap hit expires after this season.
It ultimately boils down to how Joel Quenneville wants to lean, but one would guess that Ladd will slot into a line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. If so, that gives the Blackhawks two powerhouse trios, as Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane have been lighting up the league.
Ladd can snipe and is also the sort of steely, physical presence who should fit with Hossa and Toews like a glove (or give Chicago outstanding support offense if they lean toward depth).
If #Blackhawks win again, nobody will be talking about how expensive a rental this was at the parade.
— Brian Compton (@BComptonNHL) February 26, 2016
Andrew Ladd's a natural fit in a huge need position for the #Blackhawks. But there's still a need on defense And not much cash left.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 26, 2016
Here’s a quick look at what Chicago is left with, cap-wise:
Jets’ side
Once it was clear that Winnipeg wasn’t going to retain Ladd, the price was reportedly a first-rounder and a prospect. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff more or less got what he wanted.
Dano is an interesting piece, looking OK in his cups of coffee at the NHL level. He’s bounced around a bit, yet he has the sort of first-round pedigree that could fit in well with the development-minded, draft-leaning Jets.
This is the second time Marko Dano has been traded within 8 months. He went to CHI from CBJ in the Brandon Saad deal, too.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 26, 2016
All in all, pretty good return for Winnipeg here on Ladd. I know other teams who were balking at first-round pick. Jets get Dano on top
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 26, 2016