The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forwards Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno from the Boston Bruins for defensemen Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula, the teams announced Monday.
Hall has two seasons remaining at a $6-million cap hit. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner tallied 36 points in 61 games last season while playing 15:56 per game, the lowest scoring rate and ice time of his career.
The 31-year-old scored 20 goals and 61 points in the first season of the four-year contract he signed with the Bruins in 2021-22. Chicago wasn't on his 16-team no-trade list, according to TSN's Chris Johnston, meaning Boston didn't have to seek his permission for the trade.
Foligno is a pending unrestricted free agent. The 35-year-old had a bounce-back season in Boston, scoring 10 goals and 26 points in 60 contests. He had a $3.8-million cap hit last season, and the Blackhawks are hopeful to sign the veteran, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
Mitchell spent the majority of the campaign in the NHL with Chicago, playing 35 games and registering eight points. He totaled 16 points in 82 career contests over a three-year span. The 24-year-old right-shot blue-liner played his freshman season at the University of Denver under Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery.
Regula scored 21 points in 51 AHL games this past season. The 22-year-old played 22 NHL games over a three-year span, tallying one goal. The right-shot defenseman is listed at 6-foot-4 and was originally drafted by the Detroit Red Wings.
Both Mitchell and Regula are pending restricted free agents and will require waivers in the fall.
The Bruins were in desperate need of cap space entering the offseason. Boston had less than $5 million to work with on a roster of 15 players, per CapFriendly.
Hall gives the Blackhawks a prime candidate to feature alongside presumptive No. 1 pick Connor Bedard. The 17-year-old phenom tallied 71 goals and 143 points in the WHL with the Regina Pats this season.
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