Red Wings deal Jurco to Blackhawks for 3rd-round pick

The Detroit Red Wings traded forward Tomas Jurco to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a third-round pick in this year's draft, the Red Wings announced Friday afternoon.

The deal was announced shortly after the Dallas Stars announced the trade of Patrick Eaves to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional second-round pick in the coming draft, as the market establishes itself ahead of the March 1 trade deadline.

With the postseason looking less and less likely for teams like Detroit and Dallas, the sale - at least in those two cities - has begun.

It was no secret Jurco was looking for a fresh start away from Detroit, as the 24-year-old has been held pointless in 16 games this season.

A second-round pick, 35th overall, in 2011, Jurco's career high in goals is only eight, established in his rookie season in 2013-14. Twice a 30-goal scorer in junior hockey, Jurco had 32 points in 32 games in the AHL in 2013-14, resulting in his call up that season. But that's as good as it ever got.

The Slovakian was averaging only 10:02 in ice time this season and will be a restricted free agent on July 1.

"Things haven't worked out," said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, according to the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James. "He wanted to be elsewhere."

Wish granted. And there aren't too many better places to play than Chicago, once a fierce rival of the Red Wings.