Kraken trade Burakovsky to Blackhawks for Veleno
The Seattle Kraken traded forward Andre Burakovsky to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday in exchange for forward Joe Veleno, the teams announced.
Burakovsky has two seasons remaining on his contract with an annual $5.5-million cap hit, while Veleno is owed $2.275 million in 2025-26 before becoming a restricted free agent.
The Kraken signed Burakovsky to a five-year contract after he played an important role in helping the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022. He was coming off a career-best 22-goal, 61-point season when he joined the Kraken, but he's failed to live up to those standards in Seattle. The 30-year-old missed significant time with injuries in each of his first two campaigns with the club and managed 37 points in 79 games in 2024-25.
Burakovsky also won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018.
The Blackhawks acquired Veleno from the Detroit Red Wings ahead of March's trade deadline. He was once a high-profile prospect but hasn't yet found his footing in the NHL after being drafted 30th overall in 2018.
Veleno had 17 points in 74 appearances split between the Red Wings and Blackhawks this past season and has managed 81 points in 306 career contests.
The Kraken have been active so far this summer, adding Mason Marchment from the Dallas Stars on Friday for a pair of draft picks. Seattle restructured its front office after missing the playoffs for the third time in four seasons, moving Ron Francis to president of hockey operations and appointing Jason Botterill as general manager.
The Blackhawks are coming off a 31st-place finish in 2024-25.