Blackhawks' blockbuster: Saad coming back; Panarin, Hjalmarsson gone

BOOM!

One day after the Bulls sent shock waves across Chicago by shipping Jimmy Butler out of town, the Blackhawks played a game of We Can Top That on Friday by trading Artemi Panarin, Tyler Motte and a sixth-round pick to Columbus for Brandon Saad, goalie Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round pick in 2018.

And that was only one of the two bombshells GM Stan Bowman dropped on the NHL.

The other was less than an hour earlier when Bowman sent three-time Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona for D-man Connor Murphy and center Laurent Dauphin.

The moves completely reshaped the Hawks' roster as Bowman made good on his April 22 promise that change was coming to his team.

"I certainly like the fact that we're getting younger. You have to have a measure of youth in your lineup," said Bowman, who pointed to players like Richard Panik, Ryan Hartman, Nick Schmaltz and John Hayden as Hawks who took big steps last season.

"Add to that someone like Brandon Saad, who's won a couple Stanley Cups already. He's 24 years old. Connor Murphy's 24 years old. … That's exciting when you think that they haven't played their best hockey yet.

"They're both ready to really sort of take off."

Saad said he had no idea a reunion was in the works.

"Bit of a shock this morning but definitely exciting, and I'm looking forward to coming back to Chicago," he said.

So what does this all mean?

First of all, Jonathan Toews - who has struggled ever since Saad was traded to Columbus for Artem Anisimov - is likely to get his old linemate back. The captain met the media late Friday, saying he was shocked and disappointed to lose Hjalmarsson and Panarin, but also excited that Saad will be returning.

"I remember watching him his first couple years and it just seemed like he was getting better and better every single night," Toews said. "You knew that he could flat-out fly and make the big plays … and I think that he showed that in the playoffs as well. That's what we realized we missed a lot when he was gone."

Saad, too, is pumped about being reunited with Toews.

"He's an incredible player and his resume speaks for itself," said Saad, who scored 55 goals in two seasons with Columbus and still has four years remaining on a deal that carries the same $6 million cap hit as Panarin's. "He's someone I had early success with in my career, and that's something I look forward to trying to rekindle.

"It can only grow from both of us getting better as players the last couple of years."

Panarin, who was rookie of the year in 2016 after scoring 30 goals, was a huge find for Bowman and helped Patrick Kane produce the best two statistical years of his career. Panarin disappeared, however, in the playoffs, scoring just 2 goals in 11 games against St. Louis in 2016 and Nashville last season.

"He loved everything about the Blackhawks organization," said Panarin's agent, Dan Milstein. "But (he knows) it's business, and he looks forward to the next challenge."

Bowman isn't worried about Kane, saying the 2016 MVP has produced, no matter his linemates. It's possible Nick Schmaltz may play with Kane and Artem Anisimov on the second line, but Bowman didn't rule out Saad as well.

The last part of this deal may give the Hawks the backup goaltender they need. At 6-foot-3, 191 pounds, Forsberg has the size Joel Quenneville likes in a netminder. The 24-year-old Swede, who is not yet signed and a restricted free agent, has only played 10 NHL games, but he led Cleveland to an AHL title in 2016.

From Arizona, the Hawks acquired a big, bruising, right-shot defenseman in 24-year-old Murphy. He was captain of the U.S. team at the World Championships this year and is signed through 2020-21 at a $3.85 million cap hit.

Comcast SportsNet analyst Jamal Mayers liked the moves, but added it will be difficult to replace Hjalmarsson.

"It's going to be very difficult, near impossible to replace a guy like that," Mayers said. "But I do like Murphy and what he brings to the table. He's a right-handed shot, he has similar attributes in that he kills penalties, and he's a defender first, makes a good first pass. …

"And he's (six) years younger. Father Time catches up with everyone. I think it's a smart hockey move if you take the emotion out of it."

Hjalmarsson, a shot-blocking menace who holds the franchise record for most playoff games by a defenseman at 128, has two years left on his deal with a $4.1 million cap hit. The Swede was said to be upset about the deal.

Bowman said it was a difficult phone call to make.

"He's a guy that does everything for the team and you don't hear that all the time," Bowman said. "In today's day you can have players that want more of the limelight, more of the accolades. And Niklas was the guy that just wanted to win, he wanted to do whatever his teammates asked and whatever the coaches asked of him.

"From that perspective, it's hard to move someone like him. We accomplished an awful lot together, and we're certainly going to miss him."

The 22-year-old Dauphin was a second-round pick in 2013 and split his time with Arizona and the AHL last season. He figures to fight for a spot during training camp.

• Twitter@johndietzdh

Who the Hawks got

A quick glance at the four Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman traded for Friday:

<b>Brandon Saad (6-1, 206)</b>Position: Winger Age: 24

Salary-cap hit: $6 million

Signed through: 2020-21

Stats: Averaged 24.25 goals past four seasons

He said it: "I heard (about the trade) this morning and it was definitely shocking to me."

<b>Connor Murphy (6-4, 212)</b>Position: Defense Age: 24

Salary-cap hit: $3.85 million

Signed through: 2021-22

Stats: 2 goals, 15 assists in 77 games last season

He said it: "I play a smart, competitive, defending game - more of a defensive game. … I'm pretty tall, so I feel like I can cover some ice that way. I've worked on my mobility a little more and (am) trying to be more of a mobile, good-skating D-man."

<b>Anton Forsberg (6-3, 191)</b>Position: Goalie Age: 24

Salary-cap hit: NA

Signed through: Restricted free agent

Stats: Has appeared in 10 NHL games; had .926 save percentage in 51 games with Cleveland (AHL) last season

<b>Laurent Dauphin (6-1, 180)</b>Position: Center Age: 22

Salary-cap hit: $745,000

Signed through: 2017-18

Stats: Second-round pick appeared in 24 NHL games last season and 38 in the AHL.

He said it: "Being in the AHL helped me last year and I think I'm more ready now than ever to play in the NHL."

- John Dietz