The Montreal Canadiens made a second minor trade on the eve of their season opener in Buffalo tomorrow night. Forward Andreas Martinsen was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Kyle Baun. The announcement came down just hours after the Habs sent Zach Redmond to the Buffalo Sabres for LaSalle Quebec native, Nicholas Deslauriers. The exchange of AHL players continues apace.
Montreal sends Martinsen to Chicago for Baun
Canadiens acquire Kyle Baun from Chicago in return for Andreas Martinsen. Baun will report to Laval.
DETAILS -> https://t.co/LnWBbgspcs.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 4, 2017
Farewell to Martinsen
Martinsen, 27, originally went undrafted and played in Germany before signing with Colorado in May 2015. He was acquired by Montreal at the trade deadline last year for Sven Andrighetto. At 6’3″ and 220 pounds, he was supposed to add toughness to the Canadiens lineup, alongside Steve Ott, and Dwight King. While he had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 55 games with the Avalanche, he never seemed to fit in Montreal. He had zero points in nine games for the Canadiens last year. This year, he failed to earn a roster spot and was sent to the Laval Rocket earlier this week after clearing waivers. Martinsen will now report to Chicago’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.
The Baun Identity
Kyle Baun, 25, is the grandson of former Toronto Maple Leafs great Bobby Baun, who played seventeen seasons in the NHL. A Toronto native, he played at Colgate University in New York. Baun had 79 points in 113 games in the NCAA. He was an undrafted college free agent when the Blackhawks signed him in 2015. Relatively healthy throughout his college career, Baun missed three months with an arm injury in 2015-16. His second year at Rockford was much more productive and he scored 14 goals and had 20 assists.
He played only 5 games for the Blackhawks over two years scoring no points. He was waived by Chicago earlier this month. Baun will report to the Laval Rocket and could provide the Habs with some depth on the wing should injuries arise. Baun recorded 34 points in 74 games last year with AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. He joins the Laval Rocket with some serious scorers and NHL veterans on its roster.
AHL Roster Rules
AHL Rules mean that only five veterans can be dressed on any one night. Martinsen would have been the seventh Rocket player to count as a professional veteran. The move means that the Rocket will only have to scratch one veteran. If the Habs were to call-up Jakub Jerabek to the main club, the Rocket would no longer have an issue of too many veterans.
It is also notable that despite being 25 years old, Baun could become a group vi NHL unrestricted free agent following this season. He would need to play 75 NHL games in order to not qualify as a group vi; and instead be a restricted free agent.
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