BOSTON (AP) — The NHL-leading Boston Bruins freed up salary cap space Friday by trading veteran forward David Backes and a first-round draft pick to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Ondrej Kase.
Anaheim also acquired 20-year-old prospect Axel Andersson, a defenseman, in the deal completed three days before the NHL’s trade deadline.
The Bruins benefit by trading the 35-year-old Backes, who has spent the past month in limbo since being placed on waivers and assigned to the minors.
Backes has been working out on his own since declining to report to AHL Providence in mid-January. Two weeks later, Bruins GM Don Sweeney announced that it was in both sides’ best interest for Backes not to play in the minors.