Blackhawks acquire Andrew Ladd from Jets

The defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks bolstered their chances of a repeat by acquiring Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd in a multi-player trade

There is still another three days until the NHL’s Feb. 29 trade deadline, but business picked up in a big way on Thursday night.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks bolstered their chances of a repeat by acquiring Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd in a multi-player trade, the team announced.

Chicago received veteran journeyman defender Jay Harrison and winger Matt Fraser, both of whom had been playing with the Jets’ affiliate in the American Hockey League, the Manitoba Moose. It looks as if they will report to the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, who currently lead the league’s Western Conference with 69 points.

Blackhawks’ deal for Ladd sets tone for approaching deadline

The Jets will receive forward Marko Dano in the trade. The highly touted prospect had mostly been playing for Rockford since being traded to Chicago in the deal that sent Brandon Saad to Columbus last summer. He had four goals and 19 assists in 34 games with Rockford and one goal and one assist in 13 games with Chicago this season

TSN Insider Darren Dreger first reported the news.

According to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, the Jets will retain a third of Ladd’s salary.

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Ladd previously played for the Blackhawks from 2007-10 and was a member of Chicago’s 2009-10 Stanley Cup-winning team. He was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers the following summer as part of the Blackhawks’ usual post-championship purge to get below the salary cap. He has served as the Jets captain since the team moved from Atlanta to Winnipeg after the 2010-11 season.

Ladd is in the final season of a five-year, $22 million contract. He has 17 goals and 17 assists in 59 games this season.

Thank you for all your contributions to our city on and off the ice @aladd16. pic.twitter.com/eWsOrQgbNN

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) February 26, 2016