Hawks trade away Campbell, Brouwer

In a stunningly active Friday night for the Blackhawks, the larger story was whom general manager Stan Bowman traded rather than the two prospects he selected in the first round of the draft.

Not only did Bowman deal winger Troy Brouwer to the Washington Capitals for a first-round pick, the GM convinced Brian Campbell to waive his no-trade clause and sent the high-priced defenseman to the Florida Panthers in exchange for winger Rostislav Olesz.

In Panthers GM Dale Tallon, the Hawks found a trade partner willing to take Campbell’s monster $7.14 million cap hit on a contract that still has five years to run.

It was Tallon who signed Campbell to an eight-year, $56 million deal in the summer of 2008 as a free agent.

According to a source, the Hawks first approached Campbell about waiving his no-trade clause Thursday. The defenseman finally agreed to it during the draft when he learned he would be reunited with Tallon in Florida.

While the Hawks shed about $8.14 million in cap space by dealing Campbell and Brouwer, they take on Olesz’s $3.125 hit for the next three years.

The Hawks now have approximately $14 million in cap space, which should make them one of the key players in free agency starting July 1.

Bowman refused requests by reporters late Friday to discuss the Campbell trade, saying the details had not been worked out.

Bowman did say there were a “number of teams” interested in Brouwer.

“The time comes when you have to make room for players, whether it’s (Kyle) Beach or (Jeremy) Morin, who play a similar game as Troy,” Bowman told reporters.

As for the draft, with their own 18th pick in the first round the Hawks took Prince Albert center Mark McNeill, who some scouts believe is close to being NHL ready.

With the 26th pick they got from Washington for Brouwer, the Hawks selected Victoriaville left wing Phillip Danault.

Both McNeill and Danault are considered character players with strong work ethics and the ability to play a solid two-way game.

“This is a dream come true,” said McNeill, who listed the Hawks as his favorite team. “The Blackhawks are a really special team for sure. I’m going to camp to try and make the team, but at the same time if it doesn’t happen, I want to learn and take in as much as possible.”

McNeill is 6-feet-2 and 211 pounds and said to be a workout freak. He is a right-handed center with good speed, strong playmaking skills and a high hockey IQ.

Brouwer was to be a restricted free agent who the Hawks thought would be difficult to re-sign as a decent price. Brouwer earned a little more than $1 million last season when he was somewhat disappointing with 17 goals and 19 assists in 79 games.

The Hawks do lose some size and grit in Brouwer, who was fifth in the NHL with 262 hits, but it’s an area of need Bowman is expected to address either in free agency or via more trades.

“It’s tough to leave Chicago, but I’m excited for this new opportunity,” Brouwer said.

It’s apparent the Caps wanted Brouwer as insurance against losing gritty winger Brooks Laich as a free agent. Laich now could be one of the free agents the Hawks have on their wish list.

The Hawks lose some depth on defense with the puck-moving Campbell going to Florida, but Bowman expects Nick Leddy to play a bigger role in the coming season and now it’s almost a certain restricted free agent Chris Campoli will be re-signed.

The 26-year-old Olesz was the seventh player taken in the 2004 draft. He had just 6 goals and 11 assists in 44 games for Florida last season before suffering a torn ACL in his knee. The most goals Olesz has scored in six NHL seasons is 14.

tsassone@dailyherald.com