Panthers Also Add Kris Versteeg Via Trade With Philly

The Florida Panthers sure are active today and general manager Dave Tallon is not ready to call it a day until he reaches that salary floor and/or adds every single player he had in Chicago on his team in Florida. The Panthers swung a trade with Philadelphia that brings winger Kris Versteeg to Florida in exchange for a second round pick in either 2012 or 2013 (Florida chooses which one) and a third rounder in 2012.

Versteeg, 25, is entering the final year of a deal that will see him earn $3,083,333. He is eligible for restricted free agency next summer.

Aside from being yet another guy that Tallon had in the Stanley Cup mix over in Chicago, Versteeg is a nice 20-goal, 40-50 point producer who should help provide some scoring depth for Florida. Though he was still an offensive asset splitting time between Toronto and Philadelphia last year, he didn't seem to be as comfortable and accountable as he was as a member of the Blackhawks. Perhaps reuniting with Tallon and playing for a team that seems to be going the same way Chicago did will provide Versteeg a nice change of scenery.

Versteeg Next 'Hawk Off The Books, Dealt To Toronto

 

The Chicago Blackhawks are still looking to clear salary cap space, and took another $3,083,333 off the books for next season and the year after by dealing Kris Versteeg to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Along with Versteeg, the Maple Leafs will obtain the rights to forward Bill Sweatt in exchange for forwards Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis.

In comparison, the Maple Leafs gave up virtually nothing for a solid 24-year old scorer - something GM Brian Burke has been yearning for this offseason and didn't even have to give up defenseman Tomas Kaberle to get in this deal. Last season, Versteeg netted 20 goals and posted 44 points in 79 regular season games. In the playoffs, he added six goals and eight assists as part of the Blackhawk's Stanley Cup winning team.