Player sent to Vegas for Marc-Andre Fleury will have contract terminated

The player involved in what was the most shocking trade of the offseason appears to be leaving the NHL entirely. Mikael Hakkarainen, who was sent to Vegas from Chicago in a one-for-one trade for Marc-Andre Fleury, has been placed on unconditional waivers by the Golden Knights in order to terminate his contract. Hakkarainen had one year left on his entry-level deal.

Earlier this week, Hakkarainen did an interview with Ilta Sanomat in his home country where he said he was shocked after being told of the trade. He said he was even more shocked when he learned Vegas didn't want him and he was only involved because Chicago had to move a contract in order to stay under the maximum number allowed.

Hakkarainen said it only got worse from there. As a condition of the trade, he was allowed to return to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL, the Blackhawks' farm team. However, the team told him there was no room for him. He suspects this is because management does not want to give a spot on the team to a player not in their system. He added if he decides to go to Rockford, they will send him to the Indy Fuel of the ECHL.

"It's a pretty difficult situation," said Hakkarainen.

"The organization in Chicago was not so good for me. It would be good for myself to get out of there completely," he added.

Hakkarainen said during that interview that he may investigate going to Europe to continue his career. He will have that opportunity once he clears waivers and his contract is officially terminated. That will mean Fleury was traded to Chicago for nothing in return.

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