The Seattle Kraken made another move to reshape their forward group on Friday, trading winger Andre Burakovsky to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for 25-year-old center Joe Veleno.
The trade closes the book on Burakovsky’s up-and-down tenure in Seattle, which began with plenty of promise. When he signed as a free agent in the summer of 2022, Burakovsky was expected to be a key offensive driver, and early returns were strong. He led the Kraken in scoring with 39 points in 49 games during the 2022-23 season before suffering a groin injury that ended his year prematurely. Unfortunately, he was never quite the same after that.
In the two seasons following the injury, Burakovsky tallied 53 points in 128 games, struggling to recapture the confidence and touch that made him such a dangerous top-six winger at previous junctures in his career. Whether it was lingering effects of the injury or simply an ill-fitting role, a change of scenery feels like the right move for both player and team. He was widely viewed as a buyout candidate this offseason, so getting a useable player in return at a lower cap hit is another nice bit of business for general manager Jason Botterill, after he also snagged Mason Marchment on Thursday.
For the Kraken, the return is Joe Veleno, a speedy, defensively responsible center who played parts of five seasons for the Detroit Red Wings before being moved to Chicago at the trade deadline in this most recent season. Veleno has 81 points in 306 career games, and while he’s unlikely to put up eye-popping numbers, his value lies in his versatility and skating ability.
Joe Veleno,
Welcome to Chicago 🔥 #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/yvOAXiKfE6
— Ovi (@OviClapBomb) March 7, 2025
Veleno gives the Kraken the option of filling the fourth-line center role vacated when they dealt Yanni Gourde at the deadline, but he can also slide up and down the lineup on wing. Veleno brings a more budget-friendly cap hit of $2.375 million average annual value than Burakovsky’s $5.5 million (Burky also has two years left on his deal, compared to Veleno’s one), and is a restricted free agent next summer, giving the team some control if things work out.
Veleno doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas, either. He’s not exactly a bruiser, but he’s got enough grit to hold his own on the forecheck and along the boards. Think of him as a modern fourth-line pivot—fast, defensively sound, and capable of chipping in offense when needed.
A spirited tilt between Corey Perry and Joe Veleno! 👊 pic.twitter.com/eTJ79qx71y
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 27, 2024
As for Burakovsky, the move to Chicago might just give him the reset he needs. He’s still only 29, and if he can stay healthy and find chemistry in a younger, rebuilding Blackhawks lineup, don’t be surprised if he regains some of the offensive flair that made him a two-time Stanley Cup winner.
For Seattle, it’s another small-but-meaningful step in retooling the roster heading into what should be a pivotal 2025-26 season. And for Veleno, it’s a chance to carve out a consistent role on a Kraken team that values depth, speed, and flexibility down the middle.
I see this as a win. We needed a 4th line center and to free up winger space for young guys to get ice time. Maybe he can fill Gourdes role on the PK. Also we HAD to get rid of Burky.
I am honestly surprised we didn’t have to retain or bundle a pick or two with him. Good for Burky too. It seemed like the players in the room loved him but he is the one player that the fan base completely soured on. Even Gru has his supporters.
A good start for JB. Getting rid of Burakovsky’s contract for nothing and replacing him with Marchment is some solid work. More moves need to be made to really make a difference, but this is a good start.
What effect if any does this have on Michael Eyssimont?
Even though Eyssimont is listed as a center, he was playing as a wing.
I’d assume that what happens with Eyssimont would be more tied to what happens with Kartye, which I think is still a question mark, as I’m not certain there is mutual interest between player and team in him staying. Even though he is an RFA and even if the team wants to issue a qualifying offer, if he wanted to leave for a team that offered more playing time or just to get a fresh start, I could see the team letting him walk.
I assumed the only way they’d be able to Burakovsky was through a buyout or an equally bad contract coming back. To get out of his contract for as low as $1mil in dead cap for a year is a good piece of business. Now the key is to not rush out and spend the savings on the 2025 version.
I am happy with this move. It was time to move on from Burky. This creates more roster flexibility. Let’s get Kappo done.
Amen.
This one is very much NOT a head-scratcher! I was kind of hoping to wake up to a Grubauer buyout, but this is definitely at least as good and the day is still young.
I assume that this is just a move for cap space. The team needs another left-handed center like they need another hole in the head. I can’t even imagine what they are going to do with Joe Veleno apart from put him in competition with John Hayden and maybe Mikey Eyssimont for the fourth-line center spot. They do need a right wing, though, like really, really badly now. Seriously, the only forwards they have on the right side are Kaapo Kakko and Jordan Eberle, and Kakko is playing on his off-hand side like Burakovsky was. I guess we can count on Ryan Winterton making the roster full-time this year, and Tye Kartye can move back to the right. I hope they’re ready, because they are going to get some big minutes.
That is unless… nah! Not a chance they’re seriously taking a swing at signing Marner. Or making Paterka an offer. But what ARE they going to do with all this cap space?
Eyssimant can play RW. This was a trade to unload Burakovsky. Veleno can play 4C. It’s better not to have a “4th line” anyway. When Seattle went to the playoffs, we had three 2nd lines and a 3rd line.
Interesting mention in the Athletic article that Veleno is still eligible for the 1/3 level of buyout. So if the team was planning or considering buying out Burakovsky, they could essentially still do it at a considerably smaller cost.
Veleno can be bought out for 1/3 because he is 25 or under.
Burakovsky buyout costs 2/3 because he’s over 25.
Or he could be sent to Coachella Valley. Veleno would make an outstanding addition for a Firebirds team that is looking to get another crack at the Calder Cup. He is twenty-five years old, too, so he could spend a year there before the veteran rule kicks in.
About half his contract would still be on the books in Seattle and he’s on a one-way so they’d still have to pay him the full $2.275m.
The AHL veteran rule applies if they turn 25 before the July 1 prior to the start of the season, so it definitely applies to him as he is currently 25 and well over the games played threshold.
Alex Tuch is a true right winger. Just sayin’ 🙂
If you net the two trades, the Kraken have saved about $4 million in cap commitment, spent 3R & 4R draft picks, and acquired up a 4C. OK I guess but is there a bigger picture involved or is this trimming around the edges?
Pretty sure we aren’t done.
Anyone who wants to beat the shit out of Corey Perry is okay by me – extend him already lol!!! 🙂
Between Veleno & Eyssimont (I REALLY hope he resigns) they’d have the makings of a solid 4th line. Per Puckpedia the have ~ $18.7mm in cap space – buyout Grubauer and that number goes to ~ $22.4mm for next season. Either way, they’re well equipped to take on salary via FA or trade. I hope they pursue either JJ Peterka or Alex Tuch. Obviously either player would have to agree to an extension to make this possible. I’m guessing the Kraken (win now mode) may prefer Tuch’s longer track record. What would it take to make this happen? Would Buffalo’s choice of either Nyman/Rehkopf plus future (not 2025) 1st & 2nd round picks be enough?
Another alternative could be Martin Necas, but he was unhappy in Carolina and its rumored he was ambivalent about his Colorado experience given his (apparently) desire to play center. If he really was unhappy playing wing next to Nathan McKinnon then you’ve got to wonder about the guy, so maybe a no go on him.
If they’re able to acquire one more goal scoring forward then I’ll consider the offseason a resounding success.
Jason Robertson? Dallas needs to clear cap room.
Tolvaven (1/2 retained), a Tampa 1R. Maybe there’s a 3rd team involved.
Would require Robertson to sign a LT deal with Seattle, maybe a hard sell for a guy that just went to three straight conference finals – or maybe not….
After what we have seen of Jani Nyman I would be more inclined to keep him and find out if Peterka would be amenable to accepting a third-tier offer sheet. Buffalo is not exactly negotiating from a position of power here, but there are likely to be other bidders now that they have confirmed that they are listening to trade offers for him. The big question is how much AAV Peterka will be able to demand on the market. If it’s less than second-tier money, Buffalo is not going to be able to ask for better than a first, a second, and a third.
I was reading the tiers upside down.
It seems to me if Peterka is not going to sign in Buffalo they’re going to trade him before he can sign an offer sheet. Otherwise, they’d have no control where he ends up (out of division/conference) and they’d get no NHL player assets for right now which is what they want. Also, while Seattle is expecting to be better next season, the first they would be giving up is in what is considered a loaded draft that includes Gavin McKenna. Finally, Buffalo actually has a ton of cap room and any offer sheet that isn’t way over the top risks getting matched. In the mean time, while Buffalo has a week to decide, Seattle is “handicapped” from going a different direction.
I agree they should keep Nyman, but I also think a package that has a different prospect (Rehkopf) could get it done.
On Puckpedia I threw out something similar – Tolvanen, Rehkopf, and Winterton plus a 2nd for Peterka. Buffalo seems to think that’s not close. The thought is that they want an equivalent NHLer (which I don’t think Seattle is willing to offer since that is probably McCann), and not a collection of guys that are close.
I think McCann is probably about right. I also mentioned him as an option in a Robertson deal. I think Buffalo is going to have to come away with something that says win now. With McCann they could make that case. It may be more than Seattle is willing to spend, but I think it’s in line with a price someone will be willing to pay.
Personally, I’d rather extend Tolvanen and Kakko and bring in Peterka than cling to McCann… but I assume the Sabers are on his “no trade”.
I also dream about a bigger deal that also includes Oleksiak and Byrum and a few other pieces… but that seems ambitious.
Oh sure, Buffalo could match, but how sensible would it be to match a seven-year $9.3M AAV contract for a guy who is trying to leave? That is already well above what his expected contract would be and for a player who does not want to be there. Yeah, Peterka is a good player, but how good will he be for Buffalo specifically? There is a reason that Adams has finally said that he is listening to offers. He knows it’s coming. As for that week of uncertainty, there is really nobody else available who is even worth looking at from Botterill’s perspective unless he wants to be in on the “who can throw a bigger albatross at Mitch Marner” game. Maybe he is, but, if I’m the GM, give me Peterka for nine over Marner for fourteen, especially at their respective ages. I suppose he could try to play the opportunistic game of waiting for a team to take on a big contract and then have to dump a good guy on the cheap, but who is going to be available is a complete roll of the dice.
You mentioned the McKenna sweepstakes. If Buffalo were to lose Peterka to an offer sheet and possibly even trade Alex Tuch, wouldn’t that team look exactly like one that might be well-placed in the upside-down competition for a superstar talent at the end of the season? That may be in the back of Adams’ mind, maybe even “Plan B” if they were to lose Peterka.
There’s a lot there… I’ll start with the $9.3m x 7. Offer sheets are calculated on a max five year term. If the sheet exceeds that, the AAV is calculated on a five year basis of the total value… so, if Seattle goes $9.3 x 7 that is calculated on a five year basis ($65.1m ÷ 5 = $13.02m AAV) that’s four first round picks from a team that just put up 76 points. I suspect you’re right, Buffalo would let the player go at that price.
Now if they offered $9.3m x 5 that would take him to age 28 and buy one UFA year. Buffalo would be barred from trading him for one year, but beyond that Seattle could not package in any trade protection in the sheet until the final year of the contract so Buffalo would be free to move him in years two, three, and four. Given their cap and those stipulations, I think they’d pass on the first, second and third and match… and by the way – Seattle traded away their third to Dallas for Marchment, they can’t make that offer unless they get it back.
Montreal and Detroit are two teams in Buffalo’s division who are also pushing for a playoff spot and have the picks to do an offer sheet. The Habs would need to move Laine – doable – but the Wings have plenty of cap. Does Buffalo really want to let one of those teams dictate onerous terms on their player or lose him to them? I don’t really know – and honestly, I don’t really know much – but it seems to me they’d rather trade him first than find themselves in that position.
Personally, I think folks are getting way too excited about offer sheets.
I’m patiently waiting (with fingers crossed) on a deal with Kakko.