The Edmonton Oilers have traded goaltender Ben Scrivens to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Zack Kassian.
The trade had been rumoured for days with many believing it would be completed last night. The deal was completed this morning with 24% of Ben Scrivens salary being kept by the Oilers.
Canadiens acquire goaltender Ben Scrivens from the Oilers in exchange for Zack Kassian. https://t.co/qB04cOZRH2 pic.twitter.com/ekaNTxUltx
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 28, 2015
Scrivens, 29, has recently played for the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League. The Spruce Grove, Alberta native had previously played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers had signed Scrivens to a two year, $2.3 million contract after acquiring him. Scrivens has struggled this season, losing his NHL position and struggled for the Condors as well. Scrivens is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.
Kassian, 24, is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Acquired by the Montreal Canadiens along with a fifth round draft pick from the Vancouver Canucks for Brandon Prust, Kassian never played a regular season game with the Canadiens due to a substance abuse problem. He had just recently completed stage two of the NHL Substance Abuse program but was told not to report to the St. John’s IceCaps following the Christmas break. The LaSalle, Ontario native was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and previously played for the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League, playing alongside Oilers forward Taylor Hall.
The deal allows the two clubs to swap depleted assets in hopes of fresh starts for both. Kassian never got his career started in Montreal and needs a lengthy conditioning stint with the Condors, while Scrivens could find his NHL form alongside Mike Condon to replace the struggling Dustin Tokarski. If Scrivens plays well enough for the Canadiens, he could find himself the new backup when Carey Price returns from injury. It would take him playing opposite to how he has played for the Oilers (Scrivens has a .942 save percentage is his last five games in Bakersfield). Edmonton would love Kassian to bring the size, grit, soft hands and potential he has had on the Sabres and Canucks, but it was something Montreal had hoped as well. There’s no guarantee either player finds their footing this season.
