The Blackhawks finally announced a trade on Thursday afternoon. It was not the fireworks and sparkler that the fans were hoping for but it did open up some cap room for another potential player acquisition.
Chicago sent the remaining three years of Marian Hossa‘s contract, forward Vinnie Hinostroza, and defenseman Jordan Oesterle and a 2019 3rd round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for Marcus Kruger, MacKenzie Entwistle, Jordan Maletta, defenseman Andrew Campbell and a fifth-round pick in 2019.
Hossa has been all but retired since it was announced that he was suffering for years from a painful skin condition. The Blackhawks were able to use his $5.25 million cap hit against long term injured reserved last season. The team only paid Hossa $1 million in actual dollars.
Vinnie Hinostroza was drafted the Blackhawks in the 6th round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, and signed with the team after finishing his 2014-15 season for Notre Dame. He finally came into his own last season amassing 25 points (7G, 18A) with the Blackhawks, after leading the Rockford Icehogs in scoring early on.
Jordan Oesterle was signed as a free agent last summer after playing in the Edmonton system. In a bit of a breakout year, Oesterle put up 15 points (5G, 10A) in 55 games for the Blackhawks. He became expendable with the flurry of young defensemen in the system signed to entry level deals this spring.
Coming back to the Blackhawks is a familiar face, in Marcus Kruger. Kruger was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights last summer for future considerations and then flipped to the Carolina Hurricanes shortly after. The Hurricanes traded Kruger to the Coyotes in may after a very disappointing season that led Kruger to play in the AHL towards the end of the season.
Also, coming to the Blackhawks are prospects MacKenzie Entwistle, Jordan Maletta, and Andrew Campbell.
Entwistle is an 18 year-old 6’3″ 175 lbs right wing drafted in 2017 by Arizona in the 3rd round of the NHL Entry Draft. This last season he put up 38 points in 49 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL.
Jordan Meletta is a 23 year-old 6’3″ 216 lbs center that played all of his pro career with the Cleveland Monsters and Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL. He will probaby be assigned to the Rockford Icehogs.
Andrew Campbell is a 30 year-old 6’4” 205 lbs AHL veteran defenseman that will likely take the spot of the departed Cody Franson, Adam Clendening and Viktor Svedberg.