The Blackhawks will be in the market for a backup goaltender when free agency opens on Sunday, and to help create room for a signing, they sent J-F Berube to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Jordan Schroeder.
The number of goalies under contract in Chicago has been reduced to four following the trade: Corey Crawford, Collin Delia, Anton Forsberg and Kevin Lankinen.
The move comes not long after it was reported by Jay Zawaski of 670 The Score that the Blackhawks are closing in on a verbal agreement with veteran netminder Cam Ward; dealing Berube only reaffirms that.
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Berube, 26, was given a strong look last season as the potential No. 2 going forward, but couldn't take advantage of that opportunity after compiling a 3-6-1 record with a 3.78 goals against average and .894 save percentage in 13 appearances.
Schroeder is a former first-round pick (No. 22 overall) in 2009 by the Vancouver Canucks, but hasn't been able to put it all together in the NHL.
He spent the majority of last season with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, where he accumulated 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 48 games. With the Blue Jackets, he had two points (one goal, one assists) in 21 games.
The 27-year-old center has one year left on a two-year deal that carries a $650,000 cap hit, and is likely to play with the Rockford IceHogs next season.