News: Brandon Saad to Columbus. Yes, really.
Views: Did not see that coming. But then, judging by the surprise level across the hockey world, it would seem no one else did, either.
Here’s the full deal: Saad and two propects, defenseman Michael Paliotta and center Alex Broadhurst, go to the Blue Jackets, and the Blackhawks get forwards Artem Anisimov, Marko Dano, Jeremy Morin, Corey Tropp and a 2016 fourth-round draft pick.
For Saad, of whom it now easily can be stated that he’s the greatest hockey player ever to emerge from the Pittsburgh area, it’s a chance to play only a three-hour drive from home, as well as a chance to join a burgeoning group of power forwards in Columbus. And that latter point can’t be stressed strongly enough, especially with the Blue Jackets being in the Penguins’ division: Saad joining Ryan Johansen, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and others makes them formidable.
As for the Penguins, yes, according to our sources from directly inside the team, they did make an offer, one that might well have been better than Columbus’, but it obviously wasn’t the one Chicago chose. And no, there was zero indication as to the specifics of their offer.
Suffice it to say all concerned aren’t exactly doing cartwheels. As our Josh Yohe reports from Detroit, they’re actually “sick to our stomachs” right now.
That aside, it will be fascinating to watch this story further unfold, as I’m betting there was a lot more to what the Blue Jackets pulled off here than that trade return, especially with Saad about to become a restricted free agent and affording any other team the chance to pounce on the Blackhawks’ terrible cap situation. Just call it a hunch.
I’ll keep updating this file as more develops. And bear in mind, Columbus still has to sign Saad for this to matter. So stay tuned.
Update 6:19 p.m.: According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Saad was seeking a contract covering six years with an average annual value of $6.5 million. That’s why the Blackhawks bowed out, in addition to having knowledge that the Blue Jackets were all too happy to pay that. So, obviously, factor that into any calculations being done as to what the Penguins would have needed to produce.
Brandon Saad raises the Stanley Cup during the Blackhawks' parade earlier this month. -- GETTY
June 30, 2015
News/views: Saad to Columbus in mega-deal
by Dejan Kovacevic • News/views • Penguins
News: Brandon Saad to Columbus. Yes, really.
Views: Did not see that coming. But then, judging by the surprise level across the hockey world, it would seem no one else did, either.
Here’s the full deal: Saad and two propects, defenseman Michael Paliotta and center Alex Broadhurst, go to the Blue Jackets, and the Blackhawks get forwards Artem Anisimov, Marko Dano, Jeremy Morin, Corey Tropp and a 2016 fourth-round draft pick.
For Saad, of whom it now easily can be stated that he’s the greatest hockey player ever to emerge from the Pittsburgh area, it’s a chance to play only a three-hour drive from home, as well as a chance to join a burgeoning group of power forwards in Columbus. And that latter point can’t be stressed strongly enough, especially with the Blue Jackets being in the Penguins’ division: Saad joining Ryan Johansen, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and others makes them formidable.
As for the Penguins, yes, according to our sources from directly inside the team, they did make an offer, one that might well have been better than Columbus’, but it obviously wasn’t the one Chicago chose. And no, there was zero indication as to the specifics of their offer.
Suffice it to say all concerned aren’t exactly doing cartwheels. As our Josh Yohe reports from Detroit, they’re actually “sick to our stomachs” right now.
That aside, it will be fascinating to watch this story further unfold, as I’m betting there was a lot more to what the Blue Jackets pulled off here than that trade return, especially with Saad about to become a restricted free agent and affording any other team the chance to pounce on the Blackhawks’ terrible cap situation. Just call it a hunch.
I’ll keep updating this file as more develops. And bear in mind, Columbus still has to sign Saad for this to matter. So stay tuned.
Update 6:19 p.m.: According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Saad was seeking a contract covering six years with an average annual value of $6.5 million. That’s why the Blackhawks bowed out, in addition to having knowledge that the Blue Jackets were all too happy to pay that. So, obviously, factor that into any calculations being done as to what the Penguins would have needed to produce.