Hawks Dump Versteeg on Carolina

			2015		2016
To Carolina	POS	Age	G/W	P	Cap
Kris Versteeg	F	29	14	34	$2.2 mil
Joakim Nordstrom	F	23	0	3	$605k
--------------
To Chicago	POS	Age	G/W	P	Cap
Dennis Robertson	D	24	0	0	$623k
Jake Massie	D	18	0	0	Unsigned

The Chicago Blackhawks still had to make some cap-related decisions on their roster before the season got started and they were able to make one of those moves on Friday afternoon, as they moved Kris Versteeg's salary out of town, sending him to Carolina.

Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom head to the Hurricanes in a salary dump move, as the Canes add a good veteran scorer and also gain a little bit more NHL experienced depth for their side as well.

For the Blackhawks, they add a bit more depth to their blueline, taking on a pair of defenders, who have yet to see any time in the NHL.

The Blackhawks roster needed the extra tweak, as they were looking to make room for Marcus Kruger, their last restricted free agent.  After this deal, I currently have the Blackhawks in with a projected roster of 17 players, leaving open roster spots for four forwards and a defenseman, at the very least, with the Blackhawks saving some of those spots for some new youth that they have picked up in the off-season.

The Hurricanes offense hasn't been too dominant in recent years, so they will likely enjoy the added offense that Versteeg will give them, except that he may not be quite as effective in Carolina, as he was in Chicago, given the talent around him.  I had Versteeg coming in at 35 points before the deal, but the move to Carolina sees that number go down a little bit, down to the 25-point range.

Nordstrom, on the other hand, may get a better shot at being an everyday player for the Hurricanes, but without really knowing too much or not having seen him much, it's hard to project too much for him.