The Chicago Blackhawks trade Ben Smith to the San Jose Sharks for Andrew Desjardins.
Smith, 26, has only 9 points in 61 games with the Chicago Blackhawks this season. The former sixth round pick had much better totals last season with 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points in 75 games in 2013-2014. At 5’11”, 199lbs, the right handed forward is making $1.5 million per season with more year left in his contract.
Desjardins, 28, has 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points in 56 games. The 6’1”, 195lb center is on the final year of a $750,000 one way contract. Desjardins was common on the fourth line for the Sharks and found himself recently scratched against the Detroit Red Wings on February 26.
The deal helps out the Blackhawks for next season on not spending $1.5 million on an underachieving player while the Sharks get something back for an expiring asset that wasn’t really going to do much for them at all. The Sharks will be hoping Ben Smith finds his game again in San Jose and possibly puts up the kind of points that made him earn a $1.5 million contract in the first place. He will have one season with the Sharks to prove it. Desjardins will be hoping to make an impression in order to see himself play for the Blackhawks, or anyone, next season.
Also, Sharks retained 50 percent of Desjardins’ salary in trade with Chicago
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) March 2, 2015
Keep your eyes posted to the Last Word On Sports Hockey Team as we will be posting full details and analysis of all trades leading up to the 3:00 PM EST NHL Trade Deadline.
Photo by Lisa Gansky and Mel of Flickr
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @AaronWrotkowski. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and @lastwordonpuck – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
