Andrew Ladd returning to Chicago Blackhawks
Stan Bowman did it again.
Just like last season when the Chicago Blackhawks' general manager acquired Antoine Vermette near the trade deadline, Bowman reeled in one of this year's biggest trade targets in Winnipeg's Andrew Ladd on Thursday.
"Yeah, we're thrilled," Bowman said.
Ya think?
This is a 30-year-old veteran who helped the Hawks end a 49-year Stanley Cup drought in 2010.
The fourth overall pick of the 2004 draft. The Jets' captain.
A 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward who will step right into the top line and play with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.
A 25-goal scorer. A guy who plays on the power play and the penalty kill. A two-time Stanley Cup champion.
Yes, that Andrew Ladd.
"When you're going down a checklist (of) things that Andrew brings to the table, he checks off all the boxes," Bowman said. "We felt it made sense to give this group a boost. … We want to do everything we can to put the things in place to make a long run."
In return for Ladd and a pair of AHL players, Bowman gave up Marko Dano, the Hawks' first-round pick in the 2016 draft and a conditional pick in the 2018 draft, based on how the Hawks do in the postseason. Winnipeg retained about a third of Ladd's salary.
Ladd was available because he and Winnipeg were unable to come to terms on a new contract.
"Knowing that I was probably going to end up being traded, Chicago was on the top of my list for places that I wanted to be," Ladd said. "Just the familiarity with the organization and the guys that are already on the team, it would just make it an easy transition for me. …
"You're going to a team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and that's always an exciting (proposition) for anyone."
So here the Hawks are - nearly eight months after losing Patrick Sharp, Brandon Saad, Johnny Oduya, Kris Versteeg and Vermette - and sitting near the top of the Central Division with a new toy on the roster.
Said Jonathan Toews after Thursday's 3-1 loss to Nashville: "It's amazing what our management's been able to do, especially in spite of last summer. And here we are picking up what looks like is going to be a key piece to our team."
Bowman said he contacted Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff about a month ago to let it be known he was interested in acquiring Ladd. Cheveldayoff worked under Bowman as Hawks assistant GM from 2009-11, then became Jets GM on June 8, 2011.
"Chevy's a very good friend," Bowman said. "He really knows what he's doing. From that perspective, it was a very professional negotiation back and forth. It took some time, but at the end, we got a deal that works for us and obviously for them as well."
Ladd registered 99 points in 184 games with the Hawks from 2008-10. He was traded to the Hawks at the deadline in the 2007-08 season for Tuomo Ruutu and stayed in Chicago until he was traded to Atlanta on July 1, 2010.
He had 17 goals and 17 assists with Winnipeg this season.
"Look forward to him joining our group," coach Joel Quenneville said. "There's a real nice spot on that left side with Johnny and Hoss, and looks like he'll fit perfectly there."
And perfectly everywhere on a team looking for its fourth Cup in seven seasons.
"Well, great job, Stan," Quenneville said when asked how it feels to have a GM who can pull deals off like this at the deadline. "We're happy being in the position we're in. It's not easy maneuvering through the salary-cap years and eras and days, knowing we're up against it and finding ways to be creative.
"I commend him on doing a great job."