Chicago Blackhawks Trade for Chris Campoli: Breaking Down the Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks completed a trade Monday afternoon in order to provide depth on the defensive end.  The swap comes just minutes from the NHL trade deadline.

Here is a look at the trade:

What The Hawks Receive

The Blackhawks pick up defenseman Chris Campoli as well as a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2011.

Campoli, who has also played for the Islanders in his five-year NHL career, has played in 58 games for the Senators and posted 3 G, 11 A for 14 points.  He is -3 for the season and just returned from a lower body injury last week that saw him miss two games.

What The Senators Receive

Ottawa gets the services of center Ryan Potulny and a conditional second-rounder in the 2011 draft.

Potulny, who was in Rockford most of this season, played in three games with the Blackhawks with no points.  The 26-year-old spent last season in Edmonton, where he had 15 G, 17 A for the Oilers.

Potulny can play center or wing and had 18 G and 23 A for the AHL's Rockford Ice Hogs in 58 games.

What This Deal Means For The Blackhawks

Chicago had to make a move to get a defenseman, and they got one.  He's not the penalty-killer they probably need right now, nor is he really a defensive stopper at even strength, but he moves the puck pretty well and is a good skater, just not a very physical one.

The difference between Campoli and, say, Brian Connelly (who is in Rockford right now), is a bit of size (which Campoli seldom uses) and NHL experience. 

They were able to make the deal without giving up a player on their roster, and with Jordan Hendry potentially out for a few weeks or more, Campoli is better than coming away with nothing.  After coming up dry in the hunt for a defenseman for most of the trading period, this move becomes nearly as much about saving face as it does solidifying the defense.

Paired up with Niklas Hjalmarsson or Brent Seabrook, he could eat up shifts.

What This Deal Means For The Senators

Ottawa continues to shed salary and they got themselves a nice draft pick with which to build for the future.

Potulny is a restricted free agent at season's end, but he shouldn't be expensive to re-sign.  He can possibly be a 20-goal scorer in the NHL, though at that level he's more suited to wing.  He's a pretty heady, versatile player and all signs indicate that he will be up with the Senators for the remainder of the season.

Who Wins In This Deal?

Chicago benefits the most now due to their glaring need on the blue line, but essentially this is a case where two teams swap expendable pieces.  Ottawa upgrades a draft pick and saves money.

Chicago has to hope Campoli is healthy and can play 15-20 minutes a night.  He is not really the piece the Blackhawks needed, which was a stay at home guy who could play the penalty kill.  In my opinion, they may have overpaid for the depth they obtained on defense.