Brandon Saad: What does he give the Blue Jackets? Big trade brings Saad to Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio – What Aaron Potzline of the Columbus Dispatch describes as the “perfect trade” couldn’t have been said any better. In a shocking trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Jackets sent Artem Anisimov, Marko Dano, Corey Tropp, Jeremy Morin, and a fourth round draft pick in next year’s draft for Brandon Saad and two other players. Saad will not come cheap. Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that Saad is seeking a six-year deal worth $6.5 million a season. This adds up to a total of $39 million over six years. The question is what does one Brandon Saad bring to the Columbus Blue Jackets?

In Saad, the Jackets are getting a 6’1 204 lb. left winger who scored 23 goals, 29 assists, 52 points, in 82 games this past season, and he is a two-time Stanley Cup winner. Saad was ranked 25^th in game-winning goals last season. He can make plays and score goals not only when the game is in hand, but when the game is on the line.

“He is a proven winner,” said Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen. “He has been on the highest level of his game when it has mattered the most. He has been through the Stanley Cup grind twice and been a very important piece of the puzzle to win the Cup. He has great speed. He’s a powerful player who drives hard to the net, and he goes into the had areas to score. He’s a perfect fit for us, with our group.”

As far as post season experience is concerned, his NHL Playoff Totals sing to the amount of 15 goals 19 assists 34 points in 67 games.

“That’s a game changer right there.” said Jackets center Ryan Johansen. “It makes me even more excited for next season already.”

This trade came out of the dark like a ninja appearing from the shadows. Potzline also reports that the Jackets were seeking a trade to relieve their glut of forwards. Anisimov became expendable as Alexander Wennberg began to blossom his rookie year this past season. One of the reasons why the Jackets pursued Saad is that he would play on the same line as Johansen when the season begins in October. This gives that line more firepower than it had last season. Saad will only make the Columbus Blue Jackets more of a threat come the 2015-2016 season.