Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell is pictured in a game against the Minnesota Wild on May 5, 2015.Ann Heisenfelt/The Associated Press
The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired forwards Teuvo Teravainen and Bryan Bickell from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for two draft picks.
Carolina sent a second-round pick in this month's draft, the 50th overall, and a third-round pick next year to Chicago, which saves significant salary-cap space. Carolina had acquired that second-round pick in the February deal that sent longtime Hurricanes star Eric Staal to the New York Rangers.
"This deal allowed us to use some of our collected draft picks to improve our group of forwards for the coming season by (adding) two Stanley Cup champions," Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said in a statement Wednesday.
Teravainen had 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in his first full NHL season. The 21-year-old Finn had four goals and six assists during the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup run a year ago, and is considered one of the top prospects in hockey.
Bickell, who split time between Chicago and the AHL's Rockford last season, has one year left on his contract, at a cap hit of $4 million. The 30-year-old was considered a buyout candidate with the window opening Wednesday.
"We are relieved that a trade was finally completed," Bickell's agent, Todd Diamond, said in a statement. "Bryan thoroughly enjoyed his time in Chicago and we are appreciative of everything the organization has done for him and for Stan's effort to get this ?done early in the off-season. Bryan is looking forward to the new challenge and a new beginning."