Hockey Hall Of Famer Joins The Blackhawks

In a fascinating twist of NHL roster maneuvering, the Utah Hockey Club has struck a deal to send the contract of retired defenseman Shea Weber to the Chicago Blackhawks, as reported by Brogan Houston of Deseret News Sports. 

But that’s not all—Chicago is also acquiring the signing rights to defenseman Victor Söderström and right-wing prospect Aku Räty in exchange for taking on the final year-plus of Weber’s hefty contract. To seal the deal, the Blackhawks sent Utah a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

Shea Weber has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. pic.twitter.com/YUpA27UVNP

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 7, 2025

Shea Weber, the Hockey Hall of Famer, can now add "Blackhawks legend" to his storied career—at least on paper. 

Weber’s contract, which carries a $7.86 million cap hit for one more year, is the centerpiece of this trade, allowing Utah to clear cap space while Chicago leverages the deal to stay cap-compliant without committing to less-than-ideal contracts.

As for the prospects involved, Räty, 23, was a fifth-round pick by Arizona in the 2019 NHL Draft and has just one NHL game under his belt. 

He’s set to become a restricted free agent this summer. Meanwhile, Söderström, 24, was the 11th overall pick in the same draft and has 53 NHL appearances to his name, though he’s currently playing in Sweden.

The real intrigue here isn’t necessarily whether these young players will make an impact in Chicago. Instead, it’s a savvy cap management play, with Weber’s contract serving as the key to unlocking financial flexibility for both teams. 

It’s a reminder that in the NHL, sometimes the most interesting trades are about the numbers as much as the players.

Image - Kim Klement-Imagn