Blackhawks trade Panarin in stunning move to bring back Brandon Saad

Brandon Saad of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates by hoisting the Stanley Cup on June 15, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks rocked the hockey world Friday when they traded Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for former Blackhawks star Brandon Saad.

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Panarin, 25, who has posted back-to-back 30-goal seasons, was acquired by Chicago in April 2015. In June of that year the Blackhawks traded Saad to Columbus. 

Fast-forward two years later and Saad is headed back to Chicago while Panarin is going to Columbus. Funny how these things work out. 

In two seasons with the Jackets, Saad scored 55 goals in 160 games. 

Tyler Motte also was sent to Columbus, who gave up goalie Anton Forsberg and a 2018 5th round pick as part of the trade. 

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