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Trade: Hawks unload Bickell to Carolina, but it costs them Teravainen

St. Louis Blues v Chicago Blackhawks - Game Three

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 17: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Chicago Blackhawks shoots against the St. Louis Blues in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on April 5, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blues defeated the Blackhawks 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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The albatross that is Bryan Bickell’s contract has cost Chicago one of its brighter young prospects.

On Wednesday, the ‘Hawks sent Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen to Carolina in exchange for a second-round pick in 2016 and a third-rounder in ’17.

“I would like to thank both Bryan and Teuvo for their contributions to the Blackhawks organization,” ‘Hawks GM Stan Bowman said in a release. “Both players were drafted by our organization and developed to play important roles on Stanley Cup championship teams.

“We wish them the best as they continue their careers with Carolina.”

Chicago has been trying to unload Bickell’s four-year, $16 million contract for quite some time. With a $4 million cap hit, he was a major problem for a team routinely pressed up against the cap ceiling -- and even though the club gained some financial relief by sending him to AHL Rockford last season, it was obvious that solution wasn’t ideal for the team or player.

With the NHL’s buyout window opening today, there was some thought Chicago would rid itself of Bickell, and take a reduced cap hit.

But in the end the ‘Hawks got Bickell off the books entirely, though it did cost them a good young talent in Teravainen, who had 13 goals and 35 points in 78 games last year -- his first full NHL campaign.

The Finnish center is under contract for one more year and will now join for a pretty intriguing group of centers in Carolina, along with Jordan Staal, Elias Lindholm and Victor Rask.

From the ‘Canes perspective, this is a very nice move from GM Ron Francis, who had an excess of draft picks at his disposal thanks to deadline deals for Eric Staal, Kris Versteeg and John-Michael Liles.

“This deal allowed us to use some of our collected draft picks to improve our group of forwards for the coming season by added two Stanley Cup champions,” said Francis. “Teuvo is a young, highly-skilled player still on his entry-level contract who is coming off of a strong first full NHL season, and Bryan is a veteran who has experienced great success in his career.

“Both players give our organization more options and flexibility among the forward ranks.”

‘Canes fans should be excited about the recent influx of young talent at forward.

As mentioned, Teravainen is only 21, as is Lindholm. Rask isn’t much older (23), and the club also recently signed prospects Aleksi Saarela (19, acquired in the Staal trade) and Sebastian Aho (18, coming off a terrific World Championship performance with Finland.)