Carolina Hurricanes: Trade History with the Chicago Blackhawks
![RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 12: Carolina Hurricanes Right Wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) centers the puck from being the net during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on November 12, 2018. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 12: Carolina Hurricanes Right Wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) centers the puck from being the net during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on November 12, 2018. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1bd9d25c285fd185c669bc6208a293530377efa1a9439df885e6b24e2aa213d2.jpg)
Two Cup Winners Sent Away
The late 2000s were a very frustrating time for the Hurricanes. Coming off a Cup, they missed the playoffs in 2007 and then entering the 07-08 season, were struggling. It was time to make some changes and boy did they.
In January, they sent Craig Adams for a conditional 7th round pick to Chicago. The condition of that pick was that if they did not resign Adams, Chicago kept the pick. Chicago later waived Adams and he was picked up by the Penguins where he won his second cup.
A little over a month afterward, a good old fashioned hockey swap – when its one player for another – occurred and involved two names that all Hurricane fans are aware of: Tuumo Ruutu and Andrew Ladd.
Ladd went on to win a cup in Chicago before signing with the Atlanta Thrashers. When the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg, Ladd stayed with them and became their captain. He then went back to Chicago for a playoff run and is now with the Islanders.
Standing ovation for Andrew Ladd as this video played during the first commercial break. #CHIvsWPGhttps://t.co/OjmkBg4ypj
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 19, 2016
At the time of this deal, it made sense. Both players needed a fresh start – and that’s how this trade was billed. Ruutu had some success here; he scored 26 times in 2009 but then only had 4 points in the 16 game Eastern Conference Finals run that year.
Ruutu would later be traded to New Jersey where he finished he career. Carolina got Andrei Loktionov in return who played 20 games before leaving for the KHL.
Ladd clearly has been better than Ruutu and the Hawks used him as a piece to help win the Cup. They were basically given Craig Adams that same season. Chicago took Carolina to the cleaners both times in these deals.