Winnipeg Trades Andrew Ladd Back to Chicago

One of the NHL’s biggest players in the trade market changed teams on Thursday night when Andrew Ladd was reacquired by the Chicago Blackhawks from the Winnipeg Jets. Ladd will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

The Jets received Marko Dano a forward who is 21 years old and a first round pick in this June’s draft along with a conditional pick.

Chicago gets Ladd, who is 30, plus Matt Fraser and Jay Harrison. Winnipeg will keep 36% of the remaining salary and cap hit of Ladd said NHL sources.

Joel Quenneville said the trade was a great reacquisition as there is a great deal of familiarity and his old teammates will be excited to see him again in uniform.

Quenneville said Ladd bring intangibles that are needed and will fit in quickly without a need to become accustomed to the club.

The conditional pick Winnipeg received is a third round pick in 2018 if Chicago wins the Stanley Cup this year.

Ladd returns to Chicago with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2010. Issues with the salary cap prompted Chicago to trade him in 2011 to Atlanta, which relocated in 2011 to Winnipeg.

Ladd during a conference call with reporters said he had the feeling he would be traded by the Jets and that Chicago was likely the top of the list for teams to play with.

Ladd will play on the top line’s left side for Chicago filling up a big hole left the Blackhawks traded Brandon Saad to Columbus last summer.

Andrew Shaw has done well in that role, but the Ladd trade will move Shaw down one line and create balance for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Harrison and Francis will play for the AHL Rockford IceHogs, said Chicago officials.

Dano was considered one of the top prospects for Chicago, who came over from Columbus in the Saad deal. However, on December 11 he was demoted to Rockford.

Ladd was a Stanley Cup winner in 2006 while playing with the Carolina Hurricanes. The NHL veteran of 11 years and native of British Columbia has scored 202 goals with 252 assists in his 750 NHL games during his career.

Stan Bowman the general manager of the Blackhawks said Ladd brings a great deal to the table, as he is very competitive, a versatile player and can do a little bit of everything.

Last season Ladd scored a career-high 62 points on 24 goals with 38 assists.