The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Sam Lafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe Monday for a package that includes Toronto Maple Leaf forward prospects Joey Anderson and Pavel Gogolev, as well as a swap of picks.
The Hawks also received a 2025 conditional first-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick while sending the Leafs a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick and 2025 conditional fifth-round pick.
To make the cap work for the Leafs, the Blackhawks will retain 50% of McCabe’s salary — a $2 million annual cap hit. Toronto’s first-rounder is also top-10 protected.
Former Hawks general manager Stan Bowman signed McCabe to a four-year, $16 million on July 28, 2021, which means the contract runs for two more seasons, through 2024-25.
But money appears to be no object for the rebuilding Hawks, just as draft capital seems to be of little concern for contenders like the Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. As such, those two trade partners have helped the Hawks stock up two first-round picks for each of the next three years, if all conditions are met.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Anderson joins the Hawks’ pipeline after recording two goals and an assist in 14 games for the Leafs. He also put up 14 goals and 14 assists in 30 contests for the AHL Toronto Marlies.
The 6-foot, 207-pound Anderson helped the U.S. win gold at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship and bronze in 2018. He also won bronze at the 2016 under-18 championship.
Gogolev, 6-1 and 197-pounds, will report to the Rockford IceHogs. The 23-year-old posted nine goals and 11 assists in 45 games with the Marlies, but he played in just one game this season.
Gogolev spent most of the season with the ECHL Newfoundland Growlers, racking up 21 goals and 27 assists in 33 games.
