Hawks send Byfuglien, Eager, Sopel to Atlanta

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman did his best to prepare fans for what was going to happen because of the team's salary-cap problems, but Wednesday's trade of Dustin Byfuglien to the Atlanta Thrashers still came as a shock to some.

Two weeks to the day after the Hawks captured their first Stanley Cup in 49 years, the retooling of the roster began with the trade of Byfuglien, defenseman Brent Sopel, left wing Ben Eager and prospect Akim Aliu to the Thrashers.

"It is what it is," Byfuglien told "The Afternoon Saloon" on WMVP-AM 1000. "It's part of the job. You're not going to stick in one spot the whole time, so I've got to go."

The Hawks are getting good value for Byfuglien, Sopel, a 33-year-old sixth defenseman, Eager, a fourth-liner whom they likely weren't going to re-sign anyway as a restricted free agent, and a prospect in Aliu, who has been a disappointment since being drafted in the second round in 2007.

In return the Hawks got Atlanta's second No. 1 draft pick (24th overall, acquired from New Jersey in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade), a No. 2 pick, veteran center Marty Reasoner, high-scoring prospect Jeremy Morin, a winger, and forward Joey Crabb.

The trade wasn't formally announcement by the Hawks until close to midnight while the NHL reviewed the deal.

"This is exactly what we set out to accomplish, get some draft choices as well as a top prospect," Bowman said. "The reason we traded Buff wasn't because we didn't like him; it's because of the salary cap.

"These are not easy decisions to make."

Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith talked about losing some friends after winning the Norris Trophy.

"To be honest with you, it kind of saddens me," Keith said. "Well, it really does sadden me. Those are my good buddies leaving our team. Benny and Buff. I was with Buff since he was drafted.

"You know things are going to change when you win the Cup the way our cap situation was, and things have to be made. It's too bad it had to be like this, but at the same time we've got to start looking forward.

"When these things do happen, I'm sure there might be some more, and it's not going to be fun. It's hockey. Teams change every year and you lose friends, you lose teammates."

The draft picks and the 6-foot-1, 198-pound Morin are keys to the deal for the Hawks. They now have two first-round picks in Friday's draft, and the 19-year-old Morin had 47 goals and 83 points in 58 games in juniors last season for the Kitchener Rangers.

The deal clears $4.18 million in salary-cap space for the Hawks, who moved out the contracts of Byfuglien and his $3 million cap hit and Sopel ($2.33 million).

Reasoner, an 11-year veteran, has one year left on his contract with a cap hit of $1.150 million. He could be John Madden's replacement as fourth-line center, or the Hawks could try to move Reasoner in additional moves they are expected to make.

"You can't beat going to a team that just won the Stanley Cup," Reasoner told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It's very exciting. You could tell from watching the playoffs the Blackhawks have taken over the city."

The 25-year-old Byfuglien was a playoff hero with 11 goals, 5 of them game-winners. The Hawks wouldn't have gotten past Vancouver in the second round and San Jose in the Western Conference finals without his difference-making play in front of the net.

Byfuglien also went toe to toe with Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger in the Stanley Cup Finals, getting 2 goals and 2 assists in the Hawks' critical Game 5 win that put them ahead in the series 3-2.

Byfuglien did have two consecutive inconsistent regular seasons, scoring only 17 goals this past one.

There continued to be speculation that Bowman would make at least one more roster move before the end of the weekend. There was talk the Hawks were shopping winger Kris Versteeg and his $3 million cap hit.

"There's still a lot of options we have to explore," Bowman said. "We'll see what's out there the next day or two and see if it makes sense."

Following Wednesday's blockbuster trade, the Hawks have 13 players under contract for 2010-11, with roughly $53.3 million in committed salaries. The salary cap for next season will go up to $59.4 million, according to reports, giving the Hawks a little more wiggle room.