The Chicago Blackhawks, parent club of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, have acquired forwards Viktor Stalberg, Philippe Paradis, and Christopher DiDomenico from the Toronto Maple Leafs (Toronto Marlies) in exchange for right wing Kris Versteeg and left wing Bill Sweatt.
Stalberg, 24, made his National Hockey League debut with Toronto in 2009-10, leading team rookies with nine goals and ranking third with 14 points in 40 regular-season games. The Gothenburg, Sweden, native also ranked second on the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies with 33 points and third with 21 assists despite appearing in just 39 of the club’s 80 regular-season contests due to NHL recall.
Prior to turning pro, Stalberg spent three seasons at the University of Vermont (ECAC), recording 41 goals, 84 points and 119 penalty minutes in 117 career outings (2006-09). Drafted by Toronto in 2006, Stalberg led Vermont in goals (24), assists (22) and points (46) during the 2008-09 season, helping the club to an appearance in the Frozen Four while earning a spot as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
He made his professional debut later that spring with the Marlies, recording one assist in two Calder Cup playoff tilts.
Paradis, 19, was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (27th overall) before his rights were acquired by Maple Leafs on December 3, 2009. The Dolbeau, Quebec, native made his professional debut in four games with the Marlies in 2009-10, posting two assists in four AHL matchups.
Paradis has increased his goal total in each of his first three seasons with the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL), which includes sharing second on the club with 24 in 63 games in 2009-10. He paced the team with 104 penalty minutes while finishing fifth with 44 points during the regular season.
DiDomenico, 21, paced the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs with 14 assists and shared first with 21 points in 14 postseason games in 2009-10. The Toronto native also tallied 22 points (7G, 15A) in 12 regular-season matchups during his fourth QMJHL campaign. He has tallied 251 points (90G, 161A) and 235 penalty minutes in 203 career regular-season games with the Saint John Sea Dogs (2006-09) and Drummondville (2009-10).
Drafted by Toronto in 2007, DiDomenico has also collected 75 points (19G, 56A) in 45 career QMJHL postseason tilts, which includes a league-best 31 assists in just 15 outings in 2009 with Drummondville. He captured a Gold Medal with Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championships.
Versteeg, 24, appeared in 170 regular-season games over parts of the last three seasons with Chicago, collecting 57 assists, 101 points and 96 penalty minutes, which includes 44 points (20G, 24A) and 35 penalty minutes in 79 contests during the 2009-10 campaign.
Versteeg, who was acquired by the Blackhawks via a trade with the Boston Bruins on February 3, 2007, also accrued 26 points (10G, 16A) and 36 penalty minutes in 39 Stanley Cup Playoff outings with Chicago over the last two years.
A native of Lethbridge, Alberta, Versteeg recorded 127 points (46-81-127) in 139 career AHL contests with Providence, Norfolk, and Rockford.
Sweatt, 21, was selected by the Blackhawks with their second choice, 38th overall, in the 2007 NHL Draft. He posted 33 points (15G,18A) in 39 games during his senior season at Colorado College (WCHA) in 2009-10.
