Chicago Blackhawks
· 2026-06-27
The Chicago Blackhawks traded winger Andre Burakovsky to the Ottawa Senators for a 2027 sixth-round pick on Friday afternoon, clearing his $5.5 million cap hit for the 2026-27 season.
The Blackhawks acquired Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken last summer in exchange for forward Joe Veleno, who was immediately bought out by his new club.
Burakovsky opened the 2025-26 campaign alongside Connor Bedard on the Blackhawks' top line, playing a big role in the club's strong start with 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in his first 38 games.
However, the 31-year-old's play dipped drastically during the second half, tallying only four points, including just one goal, in his final 37 appearances, most of which came while still playing alongside Bedard on the first line.
Head coach Jeff Blashill offered Burakovsky chances to break out of his slump, but it never happened, and he was eventually demoted to the bottom six for the final stretch of the year.
The trade was a smart business move by GM Kyle Davidson, who got Burakovsky's contract off the books without having to buy him out, which would have filled Chicago's second of three available salary retention slots for 2026-27.
The Blackhawks now possess 11 selections in the 2027 NHL Draft, including seven in the first three rounds, and stand 15th in the Western Conference with a 29-39 record, on a W1 streak.
And with aspirations of taking significant steps in the rebuild over the next few years, Davidson will likely look to trade some of those picks for roster improvements.
The Blackhawks' current standing is a result of their performance, and they will look to improve it in the upcoming season.