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Columbus Blue Jackets ship Brandon Sadd to Chicago Blackhawks

By The Sports Xchange
Brandon Saad (20) has been traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Chicago Blackhawks. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Brandon Saad (20) has been traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Chicago Blackhawks. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired forwards Artemi Panarin and Tyler Motte and a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL draft from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in exchange for forward Brandon Saad, goaltender Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

In addition, the Blue Jackets acquired center Jordan Schroeder from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Dante Salituro.

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Panarin, 25, recorded 151 points (61 goals, 90 assists) and 53 penalty minutes in two seasons with the Blackhawks, including 17 power-play goals and 12 game-winners in 162 career NHL games. This past season, he racked up 74 points (31 goals, 43 assists) and 21 penalty minutes.

Panarin was named a 2016-17 second team NHL All-Star earlier this week, and was NHL Rookie of the Year in 2015-16.

"Artemi Panarin was the best rookie in the NHL two years ago, a second team All-Star this past season and is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. "There is a cost to adding a player like Artemi, as well as a very good NHL prospect in Tyler Motte, but we believe this is a very good move for our team. We wish Brandon and Anton well and thank them for their contributions to our organization."

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Panarin, a native of Korkino, Russia, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2015-16 after tallying 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) and 32 penalty minutes, eight power-play goals and seven game-winning goals in 80 games. He became the first rookie since Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby to record 10 three-point games in a season.

Motte, 22, split his rookie pro season in 2016-17 between Chicago and the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs. He notched four goals, three assists and 14 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Blackhawks. He added 10 goals, six assists and 20 penalty minutes in 43 outings with Rockford.

Saad, 24, joined the Blue Jackets via trade with the Blackhawks in June 2015. He collected 106 points (55 goals, 51 assists) and 22 penalty minutes in 160 games with the Blue Jackets and represented the club at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.

Forsberg, 24, was selected by Columbus in the seventh round of 2011 draft. He appeared in 10 games with the Blue Jackets over the past three seasons, going 1-8-0 with a 4.02 goals-against average and .879 save percentage.

Schroeder, 26, tallied 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) and 10 penalty minutes in 144 career games with the Wild and Vancouver Canucks since making his NHL debut in 2012-13. He recorded six goals, seven assists in 37 games with Minnesota in 2016-17.

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Salituro, 20, totaled 11 goals, 11 assists and 18 penalty minutes in 30 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League in 2016-17, before appearing in seven ECHL games with one goal in five games with Cleveland of the AHL.

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