Blackhawks trade Jokiharju to Sabres for Nylander

The Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Henri Jokiharju to the Buffalo Sabres for forward Alexander Nylander on Tuesday, the team announced.

Both players are entering the second season of their three-year entry-level contracts and will remain under team control for four more campaigns once their current deals expire, according to CapFriendly.

Buffalo selected Nylander with the eighth overall pick in the 2016 draft. The 21-year-old has tallied three goals and six points over 19 career games.

Jokiharju made his NHL debut during the 2018-19 season and recorded 12 assists in 38 contests. Chicago selected the Finnish rearguard with the 29th overall pick in the 2017 draft.

The Sabres have made an effort this offseason to bolster their blue line, as the club also added defenseman Colin Miller through a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights in June.

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is in the midst of a busy offseason. The club acquired forward Andrew Shaw and defensemen Olli Maatta and Calvin de Haan through separate trades, and signed free-agent netminder Robin Lehner to a one-year deal on July 1.