NHL Trade: Chicago Blackhawks Send Kris Versteeg To Carolina Hurricanes

The Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes swapped multiple players in a trade which involve veteran forward Kris Versteeg.

The league’s official website reported the deal, which will send Versteeg, along with forward Joakim Nordstrom and a 2017 draft third round pick to Carolina and Dennis Robertson, Jake Massie and a 2017 draft fifth round pick to Chicago.

The 29-year-old Versteeg, who is from Lethbridge, Alberta in Canada, was a key member in the Blackhawks’ title runs in 2010 and 2015. He will be entering his ninth NHL season after stints with the Blackhawks (2007 to 2010 and 2013 to 2015), Philadelphia Flyers (2010-2011), Toronto Maple Leafs (2010-2011) and Florida Panthers (2011 to 2014).

"Kris is a skilled forward who has won a pair of Cups with the Blackhawks and can provide veteran leadership in our room," Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said via NHL.com. "Joakim is a solid, 200-foot player who can kill penalties. This gives us more options up front for this season, while also now giving us 10 picks in the first three rounds over the next two drafts."

Francis added that Versteeg’s offense would be valued with the Hurricanes, which was one of the worst offensive teams in the league last season. Carolina averaged 2.23 goals per game last season, the fourth lowest mark in goals scored in the 2014-2015 NHL season.

Versteeg recorded 34 points (14 goals and 20 assists) in 61 regular season games and added a goal and an assist in 12 postseason games last year for the Blackhawks.