The Montreal Canadiens have added more depth to the blue-line by acquiring defender Erik Gustafsson from the Philadelphia Flyers, the club announced Monday.
Montreal sent a 2022 seventh-round pick to Philadelphia in return. The Flyers are also retaining 50 per cent of Gustafsson’s remaining salary, meaning his cap hit will be $1.5 million instead of $3 million. The 29-year-old is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
The deal was first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Gustafsson, who can play on either side of the ice, averaged 17:24 of ice-time per night with the F;yers this season and added 10 points in 39 games. The Canadiens will be Gustafsson’s fourth team since the start of the 2019-20 campaign that he split between the Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames.
Earlier in the day the Canadiens lost Victor Mete to the Ottawa Senators via waivers and acquired defenceman Jon Merrill from the Detroit Red Wings.