(Edmonton) Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has already implemented his plan to surround his organization’s future franchise player, Connor Bedard, with veterans.
The Hawks notably acquired forward Corey Perry from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft.
Hours earlier, the Illinois squad acquired forward Josh Bailey and a 2026 second-round pick from the New York Islanders in return for future consideration.
The Hawks then placed Bailey’s name on waivers in an effort to buy out his contract. Bailey will serve out next season the final year of a six-year, US$30 million contract signed in February 2018.
Bailey played in 1,057 NHL games with the Islanders, scoring 184 goals and 396 assists. He was selected in the first round, ninth overall, in the 2008 draft.
The day before, Davidson and the Hawks picked Bedard first overall in the NHL Entry Draft. Bedard, who will celebrate his 18th birthday on July 17, had 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games with the Regina Pats of the Western Junior Hockey League (WHL) last season.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers freed up space on their payroll by trading forwards Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin to the Detroit Red Wings in return for future considerations.
Yamamoto, 24, had 10 goals and 15 assists in 58 games last season — his sixth with the Oilers.
In 2021-22, Yamamoto had set career highs with 20 goals and 41 points.
The Oilers’ No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft is set to serve a final year of contract at $3.1 million.
Kostin, also 24, is a restricted free agent. He had 11 goals and 10 assists in 57 games with the Oilers, after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues in October.
For their part, the Ottawa Senators have reached a season-long, two-part deal with defenseman Jacob Larsson. This contract will bring him US$775,000 in the NHL, and $325,000 in the American Hockey League.
Larsson scored four goals and 13 assists in 57 games with the Belleville Senators, the Senators’ farm club, last season. He also played in seven NHL games.
