Blue Jackets obtain Panarin from Blackhawks

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired forwards Artemi Panarin and Tyler Motte and a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL draft from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in exchange for forward Brandon Saad, goaltender Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

In addition, the Blue Jackets acquired center Jordan Schroeder from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Dante Salituro.

Panarin, 25, recorded 151 points (61 goals, 90 assists) and 53 penalty minutes in two seasons with the Blackhawks, including 17 power-play goals and 12 game-winners in 162 career NHL games. This past season, he racked up 74 points (31 goals, 43 assists) and 21 penalty minutes.

Panarin was named a 2016-17 second team NHL All-Star earlier this week, and was NHL Rookie of the Year in 2015-16.

"Artemi Panarin was the best rookie in the NHL two years ago, a second team All-Star this past season and is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. "There is a cost to adding a player like Artemi, as well as a very good NHL prospect in Tyler Motte, but we believe this is a very good move for our team. We wish Brandon and Anton well and thank them for their contributions to our organization."

Panarin, a native of Korkino, Russia, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2015-16 after tallying 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) and 32 penalty minutes, eight power-play goals and seven game-winning goals in 80 games. He became the first rookie since Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby to record 10 three-point games in a season.

Motte, 22, split his rookie pro season in 2016-17 between Chicago and the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs. He notched four goals, three assists and 14 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Blackhawks. He added 10 goals, six assists and 20 penalty minutes in 43 outings with Rockford.

Saad, 24, joined the Blue Jackets via trade with the Blackhawks in June 2015. He collected 106 points (55 goals, 51 assists) and 22 penalty minutes in 160 games with the Blue Jackets and represented the club at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.

Forsberg, 24, was selected by Columbus in the seventh round of 2011 draft. He appeared in 10 games with the Blue Jackets over the past three seasons, going 1-8-0 with a 4.02 goals-against average and .879 save percentage.

Schroeder, 26, tallied 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) and 10 penalty minutes in 144 career games with the Wild and Vancouver Canucks since making his NHL debut in 2012-13. He recorded six goals, seven assists in 37 games with Minnesota in 2016-17.

Salituro, 20, totaled 11 goals, 11 assists and 18 penalty minutes in 30 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League in 2016-17, before appearing in seven ECHL games with one goal in five games with Cleveland of the AHL.

Blue Jackets recall Anton Forsberg from Cleveland

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled goaltender Anton Forsberg from the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus' American Hockey League affiliate and assigned left wing Markus Hannikainen to Cleveland, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.

The team has also placed goaltender Curtis McElhinney on waivers.

Forsberg, 24, is 12-6-1 with a 2.16 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and a shutout in 21 games with the Monsters this season. He is fourth in the AHL in save percentage, seventh in goals-against average and eighth in wins and minutes played (1,195).

A native of Härnösand, Sweden, Forsberg has posted a 58-24-7 record with a 2.17 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and six shutouts in 96 career AHL games with the Monsters and Springfield Falcons. He led the Monsters to the 2016 AHL Calder Cup after finishing with a 9-0-0 record, 1.34 goals-against average, .949 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 contests. Columbus' seventh round selection, 188th overall, in the 2011 NHL Draft, he is 1-7-0 with an .882 save percentage in nine career NHL games with the Blue Jackets, including going 1-3-0 with a 3.03 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in four appearances in 2015-16. He stopped six shots in overtime and two-of-three in the shootout on Jan. 2, 2016 vs. Washington (5-4 SOW) for his first career NHL victory.

Hannikainen, 23, who was recalled on December 31, has registered four shots in five games with the Blue Jackets this season. He has also tallied nine goals and five assists for 14 points with eight penalty minutes and a +4 plus/minus rating in 24 games with Cleveland.

The Helsinki, Finland native has skated in nine career NHL games since making his NHL debut with the Jackets on November 28, 2015 at St. Louis. He has also notched 16-18-34 with 28 penalty minutes and a +10 plus/minus rating in 74 career AHL games with the Monsters since making his North American pro debut in 2015-16. He added 3-7-10 in 16 playoff games to help the Monsters capture the 2016 Calder Cup. Hannikainen originally signed a two-year, entry level contract with Columbus on April 20, 2015.

The Blue Jackets, who are 17-2-0 in the past 19 games improve to 28-7-4 on the season, return to action on Tuesday when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes.