With an unofficial 'trade deadline' hitting at 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday when the NHL rosters freeze for the Olympic break, there was steady barrage of trade rumors swirling the web. Yet there was just one big trade as the deadline approached, as the Chicago Blackhawks sent former #3 overall pick Cam Barker to the Minnesota Wild, in exchange for defensemen Kim Johnsson and 2009 draft pick Nick Leddy.
Chicago Trades Cam Barker To Minnesota For Kim Johnsson And Nick Leddy
You could say the move was inevitable due the financial restrictions the Blackhawks were facing after last summer’s RFA fiasco, when the team failed to send off qualifying offers on time. This resulted in the team overspending on their restricted free agents in order to keep them, including $3 million a year for defenseman Cam Barker.
The trade is also a boost for the Wild’s blueline, as they swap a 33 year old defenseman for one ten years younger and with tremendous upside.
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