Written by Chris Hine at ChicagoTribune.com
About a month ago, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman called Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and told him that if Cheveldayoff had any interest in trading winger Andrew Ladd, the Hawks wanted in.
When Cheveldayoff made up his mind this week before Monday’s trade deadline, Bowman did what he usually does this time of year — make the deal happen and get his man, despite salary-cap constraints and whatever pieces Bowman would have to relinquish.
“Great job, Stan,” coach Joel Quenneville said with a smile.
He had a reason to smile, even on a night when the Hawks lost 3-1 to the Predators at the United Center because the Hawks struck a major blow when they reacquired one of the most sought-after players available in Ladd, who helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2010.
“Chicago was on the top of my list for places I wanted to be, just the familiarity with the organization and the guys, it just makes an easy transition for me,” Ladd said. “You’re going to a team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup. That’s always an exciting prospect.”
With the move, Bowman and the Hawks are once again all in on trying to win another Cup to become the first repeat champions since the Red Wings in 1998.
“The big thing for us is the familiarity he has with not only our coaching staff but our players,” Bowman said. “He has maintained friendships, and that’s important. He’s a guy you want to go to war with.”
But the Hawks paid a heavy price to acquire Ladd, who is in the final year of his contract and may be just a couple of months’ rental for the Hawks. They sent highly valued winger prospect Marko Dano, a first-round pick in the 2016 draft and a conditional third-round pick in the 2018 draft (if the Hawks win the Cup this season) to bring in Ladd, who fills a need for a top-line left winger. Ladd, 30, has 17 goals and 17 assists in 59 games with the Jets this season.
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