Panthers Trade Versteeg Back To Chicago In Four Player Deal

The Florida Panthers have traded winger Kris Versteeg and left winger Philippe Lefebvre to the Chicago Blackhawks for right winger Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Dylan Olsen. The Panthers will pay half of Versteeg’s salary as well. He carries a $4.6 million salary this season and $4.7 million the following two years. His cap hit is a total of $4.4 million.

The 27-year old Versteeg was drafted 134th overall in the 5th round of the 2004 draft by the Bruins.

The 22-year old Lefebvre was undrafted.

The 23-year old Hayes was drafted 60th overall in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft by the Maple Leafs.

The 22-year old Olsen was drafted 28th overall in the 1st round of the 2009 draft by the Blackhawks.

Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago: Blackhawks GM Stan Bownman announced the trade after last night’s win over the Coyotes.

“Looking at our team, we thought about adding one more versatile forward to our group,” Bowman said. “He’s certainly capable of playing on the top line; he’s been doing that last few years for Florida. We have a lot of depth at forward and we can use him a couple different places. We can use him special teams as well; it’s a role he had before. He’s got a great skill level to compliment our players.”

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Kris Versteeg

Philippe Lefebvre

Jimmy Hayes

Dylan Olsen