Blackhawks players were likely a little more upbeat Thursday than they usually are following a loss.
The news of the Andrew Ladd’s return to Chicago made the 3-1 loss to Nashville easy to forget.
The Blackhawks dealt prospect Marko Dano and a pair of high picks to Winnipeg for the Jets captain, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
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Fans erupted into a loud cheer when the team announced the move on the scoreboard during the first period, and the team matched that excitement.
Joel Quenneville: "Great job, Stan." #Blackhawks
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 26, 2016
Jonathan Toews told me he didn't know the #Blackhawks had acquired Andrew Ladd until the announcement during the first TV timeout.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 26, 2016
Jonathan Toews: "I saw [Ladd] on the scoreboard, and figured that's what it meant."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 26, 2016
Toews: "It's huge because you know what Andrew Ladd's intention is coming here. You know what he wants to do, what he wants to accomplish."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 26, 2016
Duncan Keith: "I’m sure there were a few teams trying to get Laddy, and I think we’re all pretty excited to be the team that got him."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 26, 2016
Q on Ladd: "There’s a real nice spot on that left side with Jonny and Hoss, and looks like he’ll fit perfectly there." #Blackhawks
— Tracey Myers (@Tramyers_NHL) February 26, 2016
Coach Q on Ladd: "He brings the intangibles that you look for." #Blackhawks
— Eric Lear (@BHTVeric) February 26, 2016
Excited to be back @NHLBlackhawks ! See you soon!
— Andrew Ladd (@aladd16) February 26, 2016
Thanks to @NHLJets and the city of Winnipeg for 5 great years! Going to miss all my teammates, training staff and great people I met there!
— Andrew Ladd (@aladd16) February 26, 2016
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