Niklas Hjalmarsson has been Chicago’s secret since he entrenched himself in the lineup late last season. The Swede was selected in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2005 entry draft out of the SEL (Swedish Elite League), and spent ninety-nine games in Rockford over the course to two seasons prior to last year’s recall. The draft pick used to select Hjalmarsson belonged to the New York Islanders, and this is the story how he became a Blackhawk.

On June 25, 1999 (draft day) the Blackhawks sent their first round (4th overall) draft pick – of that year – to Vancouver for defenseman Bryan McCabe and the Canuck’s first-round pick (Pavel Vorobiev – 11th overall) in the 2000 entry draft. Chicago’s pick was used by the Canucks to select the Sedin twins second and third overall of the 1999 entry draft. It was sent to Tampa Bay, but eventually ended up in the hands of the New York Rangers who selected Pavel Bendl with the fourth overall pick.

McCabe played one season in Chicago before being traded to the Maple Leafs on October 2, 2000. As a Blackhawk, McCabe played seventy-eight games totaling twenty-five points (six goals, nineteen assists), and went on to have seven productive seasons in Toronto – he was selected to the 2003-04 All-Star Team. In return for McCabe, the Blackhawks received defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev and the Maple Leafs’ fourth round pick (Vladimir Gusev – 115th overall) in the 2001 entry draft.

Karpovtsev patrolled the blue line for the Blackhawks in 182 games for more then three years. This was before my time as a die-hard ‘Hawk fan, but from what I’ve gathered during his time in Chicago, the Russian defenseman was known for being soft. That very fact, prompted an on air rant from Pat Foley on the day he was traded to the Islanders for their fourth-round pick in the 2005 draft.

Foley said this:

“It’s a very happy day for this Blackhawks fan because I’m never again going to have to see Alexander Karpovtsev in a Blackhawk uniform. You know, Karpovstev actually is a very good defenseman. Gonna qualify my comments by saying he’s a good defenseman, when he plays, and there’s the rub. Because Alexander Karpovtsev looks for any reason not to play, and in his time in Chicago he is the worst excuse for a teammate I’ve ever seen in two decades doing this job [...] So, kudos to Bob Pulford and Dale Tallon for being able to get anything more then a role of tape for this overpaid underachiever.” [More of the clip here.]

So, as you’ve already figured out the draft pick the Blackhawks acquired in return for Karpovtsev was used to select Hjalmarsson. In ninety-four games played (at the time this was written) in the NHL, Hjalmarsson has developed into more then a role of tape.

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