Hawks trade young player Saarela with an attitude problem late on Tuesday

The Chicago Blackhawks were not only busy battling on the ice last night, losing 2-1 at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in a shootout, they were also moving pieces in a late night trade. 

The Blackhawks acquired left-handed defenseman Ian McCoshen from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Aleksi Saarela on Tuesday night.

While it is a minor deal, it could be a sign for more moves to come… 

The Hawks are landing 24 year-old blue liner McCoshen, who is currently on a two-way deal worth $700,000. He is expected to report to the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.

McCoshen had collected four assists in seven games this season with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL. The Panthers drafted him in the second round, 31st overall) in the 2013 NHL draft . He has seven points in 60 regular-season NHL games with Florida and 30 points in 115 career AHL games since 2016.

As for Saarela, Chicago acquired in a four-player trade with the Carolina Hurricanes back in July. He was a promising addition to Chicago’s pipeline after scoring 30 goals in the regular season and seven goals in the playoffs to help the Charlotte Checkers win the Calder Cup.

However back in August, he was quick to criticize Carolina during an interview with a Finnish newspaper for not calling him up to the NHL. He then didn’t make the Blackhawks’ opening-day roster and was assigned to Rockford prior to the team’s trip to Europe for the NHL Global Series. He is believed to have been bitter about his re-assignment to the AHL once again... 

The 22-year-old is the older brother of Blackhawks prospect Antti Saarela, who was selected in the fourth round, 123rd overall in this year’s draft. He could get more ice time and a possibility to crack the roster down South.