Calgary sends a conditional 2020 third-round pick to Chicago in return for the 27-year-old Gustafsson.
The Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a conditional 2020 third-round draft pick on Monday afternoon. According to CapFriendly, the Blackhawks will receive the earlier of Calgary or Edmonton’s 2020 third-round pick, which will be determined at the end of the season.
The move doesn’t come as a surprise, as Gustafsson has been a healthy scratch in each of the Blackhawks’ last two games for safety precautions before the trade deadline. Sportsnet’s Eric Francis was the first to break the news via Twitter.
After recording 17 goals and 43 assists for 60 points last season, Gustafsson has underwhelmed in 2019-20 with just 26 points (6G, 20A) in 59 games. Gustafsson had also been removed from the Blackhawks’ top power-play unit in favor of Adam Boqvist and Duncan Keith before being traded.
All in all, the Swedish blueliner tallied 116 points (28G, 88A) in 214 games across four seasons with the Blackhawks. Gustafsson signed a two-year contract with the Hawks back on Apr. 30, 2015 after the Edmonton Oilers didn’t retain his NHL playing rights. Edmonton selected Gustafsson in the fourth-round (93rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
The left-handed defenseman carries a minimal $1.2 million cap hit on his current deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
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