Hawks swing surprise blockbuster with Rangers

The Chicago Blackhawks made a shocking deal last night sending young power forward Chris Stewart to the New York Rangers in exchange for prospect Ryan Johansen, and young center Brandon Sutter.

"We had no intention of dealing Chris Stewart, however when the opportunity to add a potential franchise type center in Ryan Johansen, along with a young high end two-way forward like Brandon Sutter, it was impossible to pass up" explained Hawks GM Todd Semonick.

The key to the deal for the Hawks is young Ryan Johansen. The 6'3 pivot is coming off a terrific season with portland in which he notched 40 goals, and 92 points in just 63 games. He was also a force for Canada at the world junior tallying 9 points in 7 games in a tournament he is again eligible for next year should he not be in the NHL. The 2010 4th overall pick projects to be an all round forward, and his size, slick hands, and development curve have many likening him to Ryan Getzlaf.

While Johansen was the focal point in the deal for the Hawks, they also added another very talented young player to the organization. 21 year old two way center Brandon Sutter should step right in and help the Hawks this season. Another big body at 6'3, Sutter is already a very responsible 3-zone player. He also has untapped offensive upside that should see him be a regular 50+ point contributor.

It remains to be seen whether the Hawks have more moves up their sleeve as the deadline approaches, this surprise deal shows that there are likely few untouchables.