Kraken trade Andre Burakovsky to Blackhawks for Joe Veleno

The Seattle Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks completed a trade Saturday morning. Heading to Chicago is veteran left winger Andre Burakovsky, while Seattle bound is fellow forward Joe Veleno.

Through 79 appearances with the Kraken in 2024-25, Burakovsky tallied 10 goals and 27 assists for 37 points coupled with 12 penalty minutes and a minus-three mark.

Originally chosen 23rd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2013 NHL Draft, the 30-year-old Sweden competitor has since seen 696 career contests with the Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, and Kraken in which he has collected 153 goals and 234 assists for 387 points. Burakovsky has also added 47 points counting 20 goals and 27 assists in 93 postseason outings, underscored by Stanley Cup wins with the Capitals in 2018 and Avalanche in 2022.

Per PuckPedia, Burakovsky is entering the fourth year of a five-year contract that carries a $5.5-million average annual value.

For Veleno, the 25-year-old Montreal native saw 74 showings in 2024-25 split between the Detroit Red Wings and Blackhawks in which he totaled eight goals and nine assists for 17 points with 17 penalty minutes and a minus-23 rating.

The 30rd overall selection by the Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Draft, Veleno has made 306 career appearances with the Red Wings and Blackhawks in which he has recorded 38 goals and 43 assists for 81 points. With the Red Wings in 2023-24, Veleno reached a career-high 28 points counting 12 goals and 16 assists coming in 80 games.

Veleno is entering the final year of a two-year pact that carries a $2.275-million cap hit, according to PuckPedia.

For the Kraken, the deal marks the second trade in the past three days following a Thursday transaction that saw the club add left winger Mason Marchment from the Dallas Stars in exchange for third- and fourth-round draft selections.