The Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday acquired veteran forward André Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for Joe Veleno.
On its surface, the move appears to benefit both parties.
The Kraken unload Burakovsky’s contract ($5.5 million salary-cap hit) without a burdensome buyout.
The Hawks upgrade their offense from the 25-year-old Veleno ($2.275 million), a center who was acquired in a March trade that sent goalie Petr Mrázek and forward Craig Smith to the Detroit Red Wings — a deal completed mainly as a favor to Mrázek.
Veleno put up three goals and four assists in 18 games for the Hawks last season.
Burakovsky is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, helping the Washington Capitals win the Cup in 2018 and the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. But the 30-year-old winger is no slam-dunk addition.
While he twice was a 20-goal scorer with the Avs — he had 22 goals, 39 assists and 61 points in 2021-22, all career highs — injuries and offensive struggles plagued him during his three seasons in Seattle. Last season Burakovsky produced 10 goals and 27 assists in 79 games.
The 6-foot-3, 203-pound, left-handed shot is a native of Klagenfurt, Austria, and was the 23rd pick in the 2013 draft by the Capitals. The 11-year-veteran has appeared in 696 career regular-season NHL games, producing 153 goals and 234 assists.