The Blackhawks traded Versteeg, Joakim Nordstrom, and a 2017 third-round pick to Carolina in exchange for Dennis Robertson, Jake Massie, and a 2017 fifth-round pick on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The Blackhawks needed to free up some cap space in order to re-sign Markus Kruger, so moving Versteeg and his $2.2 million cap hit is a step in the right direction. Versteeg was a solid contributor for the Hawks in 2014-15, tallying 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 61 games with the team. The 29-year-old winger is still recovering from a knee injury, but is expected to be ready for the start of the upcoming season. Versteeg will likely slot into a second or third line role with the Hurricanes in 2015-16.