Completed trade between the Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken takes a major turn for the better

Back in June, the Blackhawks sent Joe Veleno to the Kraken for Andre Burakovsky. At the time, some wondered if Chicago might regret dealing a younger center for a veteran winger coming off a tough season. Now, that trade is looking like a home run for the Hawks.

Just eight days after Seattle picked up Veleno, they decided to buy out the final year of his contract. That means the Kraken basically gave away Burakovsky for nothing, while the Blackhawks not only got a proven top-six option, but also end up clearing $1.48 million in cap space.

This was the second time this year that Veleno switched teams, as the Detroit Red Wings traded him at the trade deadline for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith.

He ended up playing 18 games for the Blackhawks at the end of the season, and finished the year with 17 points in total. Though he showed great potential, he never quite found his rhythm. Now, after being bought out by Seattle, the 25-year-old Montreal native lands back home with the Canadiens on a one-year deal.

Meanwhile, Burakovsky slides into a Hawks lineup that can use his offensive punch. Despite injuries last season, he's still just 29 and has a Stanley Cup ring from his time in Colorado. If he stays healthy, the bet taken by Hawks management could bring a lot in return.

At the end of the day, the Blackhawks turned a player they acquired only in March into a more established scorer and some cap relief.