In the first big move of the 2016 NHL Draft on Friday, the Montreal Canadiens made a pair of deals to open the evening.
Canadiens trade Lars Eller to Capitals, acquire Andrew Shaw from Blackhawks
Montreal has taken a big problem off of Chicago’s hands.
First, 27-year-old center Lars Eller is headed to the Washington Capitals in exchange for two draft picks. Montreal will get Washington's 2017 and 2018 second-round picks in the trade. Eller played six seasons with the Canadiens and has played 442 games and amassed 156 points during his career.
The trade doesn’t do much for the Canadiens in the short-term, but it bolsters their stockpile over the next few seasons.
Then, the Canadiens acquired 24-year-old Andrew Shaw from the Blackhawks for the Nos. 39 and 45 picks in this year's draft. Earlier in the day, Shaw reportedly asked the Blackhawks for $4.5 million per year, a request Chicago could not answer due to their cap situation.
Shaw heads to the Canadiens coming off a 34-point season in his fifth year in the league and will likely serve as a depth player on Montreal’s roster.
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