Blackhawks Trade Ben Smith To Sharks For Andrew Desjardins
(CBS) In yet another deal before this afternoon's trade deadline, the Blackhawks sent forward Ben Smith and a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2017 to the Sharks in exchange for forward Andrew Desjardins.
Smith, 26, was a regular on Chicago's fourth line and had recorded nine points in 61 games this season. Smith had spent his entire five-year NHL career in Chicago. He was one of Chicago's top penalty-killers.
The 6-foot-1 Desjardins, 28, is a physical presence who could play center or wing on Chicago's fourth line. He had eight points in 56 games for the Sharks this season. He's in the final year of his contract. Desjardins has played in 26 career playoff games.
The Blackhawks will save $750,000 of cap space with this trade.
It's the fourth trade by Chicago in the past week and the third one with a significant effect on the regular lineup.
On Friday night, the Blackhawks acquired defenseman Kimmo Timonen from the Flyers in exchange for a second-round pick in 2015 and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2016.
Late Saturday night, the Blackhawks acquired forward Antoine Vermette from the Coyotes in exchange for first-round pick in 2015 and young defenseman Klas Dahlbeck. Vermette is highly regarded for his penalty-killing abilities, which helped make Smith expendable.
