The Seattle Kraken made another move to reshape their forward group on Friday, trading winger Andre Burakovsky to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for 25-year-old center Joe Veleno.

The trade closes the book on Burakovsky’s up-and-down tenure in Seattle, which began with plenty of promise. When he signed as a free agent in the summer of 2022, Burakovsky was expected to be a key offensive driver, and early returns were strong. He led the Kraken in scoring with 39 points in 49 games during the 2022-23 season before suffering a groin injury that ended his year prematurely. Unfortunately, he was never quite the same after that.

In the two seasons following the injury, Burakovsky tallied 53 points in 128 games, struggling to recapture the confidence and touch that made him such a dangerous top-six winger at previous junctures in his career. Whether it was lingering effects of the injury or simply an ill-fitting role, a change of scenery feels like the right move for both player and team. He was widely viewed as a buyout candidate this offseason, so getting a useable player in return at a lower cap hit is another nice bit of business for general manager Jason Botterill, after he also snagged Mason Marchment on Thursday.

For the Kraken, the return is Joe Veleno, a speedy, defensively responsible center who played parts of five seasons for the Detroit Red Wings before being moved to Chicago at the trade deadline in this most recent season. Veleno has 81 points in 306 career games, and while he’s unlikely to put up eye-popping numbers, his value lies in his versatility and skating ability.

Joe Veleno,

Welcome to Chicago 🔥 #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/yvOAXiKfE6

— Ovi (@OviClapBomb) March 7, 2025

Veleno gives the Kraken the option of filling the fourth-line center role vacated when they dealt Yanni Gourde at the deadline, but he can also slide up and down the lineup on wing. Veleno brings a more budget-friendly cap hit of $2.375 million average annual value than Burakovsky’s $5.5 million (Burky also has two years left on his deal, compared to Veleno’s one), and is a restricted free agent next summer, giving the team some control if things work out.

Veleno doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas, either. He’s not exactly a bruiser, but he’s got enough grit to hold his own on the forecheck and along the boards. Think of him as a modern fourth-line pivot—fast, defensively sound, and capable of chipping in offense when needed.

A spirited tilt between Corey Perry and Joe Veleno! 👊 pic.twitter.com/eTJ79qx71y

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 27, 2024

As for Burakovsky, the move to Chicago might just give him the reset he needs. He’s still only 29, and if he can stay healthy and find chemistry in a younger, rebuilding Blackhawks lineup, don’t be surprised if he regains some of the offensive flair that made him a two-time Stanley Cup winner.

For Seattle, it’s another small-but-meaningful step in retooling the roster heading into what should be a pivotal 2025-26 season. And for Veleno, it’s a chance to carve out a consistent role on a Kraken team that values depth, speed, and flexibility down the middle.